Creating a defensible space to guard against wildfires

The first 30 feet around your house are key to fire protection. Here are some key points to creating an effective defensible space:

Fire-wise plants

There are many choices of plants that are both fire-wise and water-thrifty. Here are some suggestions:

Trees

• California sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
• Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)
• Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

Shrubs

• Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) ‘Dr. Hurd’
• Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) ‘Austin Griffiths’
• Monkey flower (Mimulus)
• California lilac (Ceanothus), ‘Ray Hartman,’ ‘South Coast Blue,’ ‘Julia Phelps’
• Coffeeberry, also called California buckthorn (Rhamnus californica)
• Chitalpa tashkentensis

Perennials

• Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
• Red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
• Seaside daisy (Erigeron glaucus)
• California fuchsia (Zauschneria californica)

Ground cover

• California lilac (Ceanothus) ‘Yankee Point’ or ‘Joyce Coulter’
• Ceanothus gloriosus cultivars (Heart’s Desire, Mills Glory, Anchor Bay)
• Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) ‘John Dourley,’ ‘Harmony’ or ‘Pacific Mist’
• Manzanita (Arctostaphylos edmundsii) ‘Carmel Sur,’ ‘Point Reyes’
• California wild rose ‘Bee’s Bliss’ and ‘Dara’s Choice’

Plants to avoid

Plants that store volatile oils should be removed, because they can ignite quickly. These are examples:

• Acacia trees
• Cedar trees
• Eucalyptus trees
• Juniper trees
• Pepper trees