https://www.firesafergardens.com/home daily 1.0 2026-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1615822244041-9ENA8VG7ALNR8051MER2/Safer+Gardens+Plant+Flammability+%26+Planning+for+Fire+book+cover+-+Lesley+Corbett.jpg Home - Flammability information on over 500 plants https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616458477930-CERJY80EVY934WQA5DVZ/plant+flammability+-+bushfires.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616807353550-X1P9DF0C6C32NAQPZXOD/Spanish+lavender+plant+flammability.jpg Home - Spanish lavender Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is sometimes included on low flammability lists. However according to research, the green leaves are very flammable (Henaoui et al. 2013). Their moisture content in spring was found to be low. The leaves are aromatic and contain essential oils. Spanish lavender readily spreads from gardens into nearby bushland in many parts of Australia. Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) growing wild in Ceuta, Spain. Picture by Xemenendura courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616807374597-F8VR12E3JS4SPGYDEOFL/English+lavender+plant+flammability.jpg Home - English lavender Tests on English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) indicate it has low flammability (Sheridan 1996). However like most lavenders it is short lived and becomes woody and increasingly flammable with age. The moisture content of green leaves tested in Tasmania in summer was fairly high. The leaves are aromatic and contain essential oils. It may be a useful plant to grow if you are prepared to remove it when it becomes woody. Common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) in a French garden. Picture by JLPC courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616807402134-VSK6AS0JGLH0UJV9EXA4/Spotted+gum+plant+flammability.jpg Home - Spotted gum Spotted gum (Corymbia maculata) quite often appears on low flammability lists but research indicates both its fresh and its dry leaves have high flammability (Bellamy 1988). It is a smooth barked gum which means its trunk is not as flammable as gums with rough bark or with bark that sheds in long strips. It sheds its bark in summer in small pieces. It used to be known as Eucalyptus maculata. Corymbia maculata (cultivated) Burnley Gardens, Burnley, Victoria, Australia. Picture by Melburnian courtesy of Wikipedia. https://www.firesafergardens.com/about-the-book daily 0.75 2026-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616414960218-P9T1V5VDEUH2SJ48USYX/Safer+Gardens+Plant+Flammability+%26+Planning+for+Fire+-+diagram+of+plant+flammability+scale.jpg About the book https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616413435142-C3UC3CHBLFWRXS9SKP72/Rosa+canina+-+Dog+rose+-+plant+flammability.jpeg About the book - Rosa canina - Dog rose Deciduous climber Test indicates it has high flammability Algerian researchers Henaoui et al. (2013) tested plants growing in the mountains. Based on its ignition time in spring they said the green leaf of Rosa canina had high flammability. Moisture content was moderate, length of burning time was high, and flame height was high. The Country Fire Authority (Victoria) considers all climbers to be extremely flammable. Weed: A declared plant in SA. Naturalised in parts of WA, Tas, NSW, Vic, SA. Picture by Roberta F courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616810380195-SJSH0NA8W6IUP9O7FOUP/photo+revealing+some+of+the+dead+material+beneath+the+green+outer+layer+of+prostrate+rosemary.jpg About the book Here is a photo revealing some of the dead material beneath the green outer layer of prostrate rosemary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616828007424-R5ATDDLPP9J5ITY56U4K/rosemary+groundcover+-+Safer+Gardens+Plant+Flammability+%26+Planning+for+Fire.jpg About the book Here is a photo of the same rosemary groundcover variety (‘Lockwood de Forest’). As you can see it can grow over 3m wide. https://www.firesafergardens.com/the-plants daily 0.75 2026-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616810989075-KEG1M02RSIIQMN8UIR2X/800px-Pistacia_chinensis.jpeg The plants - Deciduous trees and shrubs Deciduous trees and shrubs Many people believe that all deciduous plants have low flammability but my research indicates this is not the case. Around the world, the fire season seems to be getting longer, with large fires sometimes occurring in spring and autumn. Consequently fire may come through at a time when the leaves on deciduous trees are turning autumn colours and getting ready to fall. These autumn leaves are more flammable than the green summer leaves. If deciduous trees are planted too close to a home they could potentially put the home at risk if there are autumn fires. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616811153600-Y5K0EZO9UXHA0UM8HFAY/Apricot_tree_flowers.jpeg The plants - The Orchard This includes fruit and nuts. In some Mediterranean countries certain types of orchards, such as citrus, are used as green belts to provide a break between forest areas and villages. Olive trees are sometimes included on ‘fire retardant’ lists. However they are very hard to put out once alight. A researcher investigating the 2007 wildfire season in Southern Greece found that fire damage in olive groves was greater if weeds had been cut down but left lying on the ground (Zirogiannis 2009). Apricot flowers in an orchard in the village of Benhama, Kashmir. Picture by Mehraj Mir courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616811292972-KQID4J1FEGF7VEY8BWKM/Hymenosporum_flavum_flowers_Port_Macquarie.jpeg The plants - Evergreen trees and shrubs Research indicates that some evergreen trees and shrubs have low flammability. These plants may be suitable for firewise gardens if they are well maintained and if ground litter and dead branches are regularly removed. Shrubs should not be placed under trees where they may provide a ladder fuel, enabling fire to reach the canopy. Flames from a 2m shrub may reach between 6 to 10m high depending on the intensity of the fire. Remember, in a really fierce fire, all plants will burn. It is best to select plants which don’t drop a lot of leaves through summer as they will add to the general fuel load in your garden at a time of heightened fire risk. Research indicates that native frangipani trees (Hymenosporum flavum) have very low to extremely low flammability. The branches are brittle so be careful where you place it. Picture by Peter Woodard courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616811417294-TO9KZNSN241P1PRENACX/1024px-Pelargonium_peltatum_flower.jpeg The plants - Low plants and climbers This section includes grasses, climbers, groundcovers and low plants. Climbers often contain dead material in their interior, and because of their vertical growth, there is a lot of oxygen around them to feed a fire. If allowed to climb into trees, not only do they enable fire to reach the canopy, they may smother the tree, causing many of its leaves to die, thus increasing the flammability of the tree. Be aware that groundcovers often develop a dead thatch beneath their lush surface. Small plants don’t have as much foliage to burn as bigger plants and so contribute less fuel to a fire. Choose ones such as ivy geranium which research indicates has very low flammability. The leaves of ivy leaf geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) have a very high moisture content. Picture by Andrew Massyn courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616811612718-HBV9PQ5SGRP8TUWJYCOK/Succulent_in_San_Francisco.jpeg The plants - Succulents There are reports of some succulents helping to slow down a fire or even helping to save a home from fire. Many succulents have juicy leaves with a high moisture content. This moisture needs to be driven off by the heat of the fire before the leaves can ignite. However some succulents only have a short life and accumulate a lot of dead material as they age. Be careful with the placement of succulents that have sharp spiny tips. Spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla) in San Francisco. Picture by Snapdragon66 courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616821509238-9ULS0KSLQHFXM7CPRV15/Eze_jardin_exotique.jpeg The plants Spiny plants may be a danger to children or to firefighters, especially if they are fighting a fire at night. Picture by Berthold Werner courtesy of Wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616813462992-5XJHPM3QOW9H6QU12N3H/Safer+Gardens+Plant+Flammability+%26+Planning+for+Fire+-+Lesley+Corbett.jpg The plants - Learn more about the book https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/604f776940e96b74d9b12483/1616893739250-LTRGY5WEF27XBNEZ4CJ7/Long+ribbons+of+bark+can+become+firebrands+carried+on+the+wind.jpg The plants Long ribbons of bark can become firebrands carried on the wind. 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