The best chance of finding a majority of these plant species would be through The Men of the Trees nurseries. Click here to visit the Western Australian Chapter, or for other States (in Australia) view the Google search. Can't understand the Latin? Try find it's image at the Australian National Botanic Gardens Website or else try Google's Image search.
Content on this page has been sourced from the FESA Publication: "Trees & Plants for Bush Fire Prone Areas"
List of Fire Retardant Plant Species
There are many varieties of trees, shrubs and ground covers which resist intense burning and/or have less chance of contributing to ember attacks. These plants have a number of distinguishable features, including a high salt and moisture content and a low volatile oil content in the leaves.
Usually fire retardant trees have thick, well-defined bark and few branches which grow low to the ground. These trees and shrubs rarely shed large quantities of leaves and twigs and their seeds are usually enclosed in woody capsules.
It should be noted that under the right circumstances, such as a fire's intensity, that even fire retardant plants can and will burn. It is the degree of resistance and their ability to reduce airborne embers that make fire retardant plants attractive. Used in conjunction with other landscaping techniques (e.g. rocky outcrops) they can be an effective method of slowing and reducing the intensity of an approaching fire front.
Australian Trees that are fire retardant |
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| Acacia cyclops |
Coastal Wattle |
Acmena smithii |
Lilly Pilly |
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| Banksia marginata |
Banksia |
Casuarina obesa |
Swamp Sheoak |
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| Eucalyptus sargentii |
Salt River Gum |
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Non-Australian Trees that are fire retardant |
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| Acer campestre |
Common Maple |
Acer negundo |
Box Elder Maple* |
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| Acer plantoides |
Norway Maple |
Acer speudoplantanus |
Sycamore* |
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| Aesculus hippocastanum |
Horse Chestnut |
Alnus jorullensis |
Evergreen Alder |
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| Calandendrum capense |
Cape Chestnut |
Castanea dentata |
American Chestnut |
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| Castanea sativa |
Sweet Chestnut |
Ceratonia siliqua |
Carob |
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| Cercis siliquastrum |
Judas Tree |
Chamaecytisus proliferus |
Tagasaste* |
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| Coprosma repens |
Mirror Bush* |
Cornus capitata |
Evergreen Dogwood* |
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| Elaeagnus angustifolio |
Russian Olive |
Fagus sylvatica |
Common Beech |
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| Frxinus spp |
Ash* |
Juglans nigra |
Black Walnut |
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| Laurus nobilis |
Laurel |
Ligustrum spp |
Privet* |
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| Liriodendron tulipifera |
Tulip Tree |
Liquidambar styracifua |
Liquidamber |
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| Morus spp |
Mulberry |
Olea europeae |
Olive* |
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| Photinia glabra |
Red Leaf Photinia |
Photinia serrulata |
Chinese Hawthorn* |
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| Pittosporum eugenioides |
Tarata* |
Plantanus orientalis |
Plane |
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| Populus spp |
Poplar* |
Prunus laurocerasus |
Cherry Laurel* |
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| Prunua lusitanica |
Portugal Laurel* |
Quercus canariensis |
Algerian Oak |
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| Quercus cerris |
Turkey Oak |
Quercus iles |
Holm Oak |
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| Quercus robur |
English Oak |
Salix babylonica |
Weeping Willow* |
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| Schinus molle |
Pepper Tree |
Sorbus aucuparia |
Rowan |
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Ulmus spp |
Elm* |
Tilia vulgaris |
Linden |
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Shrubs that are hard to burn |
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| Acacia baileyana |
Cootamundra Wattle* |
Acacia dealbentaate |
Silver Wattle* |
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| Acacia glandulicarpa |
Hairy Pod Wattle* |
Acacia howitii |
Sticky Wattle* |
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| Acacia iteaphulla |
Flinders Range Wattle* |
Acacia melanoxylon |
Blackwood* |
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| Acacia pravissima |
Ovens Wattle * |
Acacia prominens |
Golden Rain Wattle * |
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| Acacia saligna |
Golden Wreath Wattle |
Acacia terminalis |
Cedar Wattle * |
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| Acacia verstita |
Hariy Wattle * |
Agonis juniperina |
Juniper Myrtle |
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| Angophora costata |
Apple Jack |
Anigozanthos species |
Kangaroo Paw |
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| Atriplex spp |
Saltbush |
Brachychiton pupulneus |
Kurrajong * |
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| Camellia cvs |
Camellia |
Casuarina cristata |
Belah |
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| Casuarina cunninghamiana |
River She Oak |
Eremophila spp |
Poverty Bush |
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| Eucalyptus maculata |
Spotted Gum * |
Ficus macrophylla |
Moreton Bay Fig |
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| Ficus species |
Fig |
Grevillia aquifolium |
Prickly Grevillia |
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| Grevillia barklyana |
Gully Grevillia |
Grevillia robusta |
Silky Oak |
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| Grevillia victoae |
Hakea elliptica |
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| Hakea smilacifolia |
Willow Hakea |
Hakea suaveolens |
Sweet Hakea |
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| Heterodendrum oleifolium |
Cattlebush |
Hibiscus cvs |
Hibiscus |
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| Hymenosporum flavern |
Lagunaria patersonia |
Pyramid Tree |
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| Melaleuca lanceolata |
Moonah |
Melia azedarach |
White Cedar * |
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| Myoporum acuminatum |
Boobialla |
Myoporum insulare |
Blueberry Tree |
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| Myoporum pavifoloium purpurea |
Olearia species |
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| Orthrosanthus species |
Patersonia species |
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| Tristania conferta |
Brush Box |
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Ground Covers that are hard to burn |
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| Ajuga reptans |
Bugle |
Atilpex spp |
Saltbush |
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| Carpobrotus spp |
Pigface * |
Coprosma 'kirkii' |
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| Delosperma 'alba' |
Dichondra repens |
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| Drosanthemum floribundum |
Gazania spp |
Gazanias |
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| Hedera spp |
Clinging Types of Ivy |
Helianthemum spp |
Sunroses |
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| Kennedia spp |
Coral Peas |
Myoporum parvifolium |
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| Lampranthus multiradiatus |
Noonflower |
Pelargonium spp |
Geranium * |
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| Portulacaria spp |
Jade Plants |
Rosmarinus officinalis prostratus |
Rosemary |
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| Rhagodia spp |
Saltbush |
Sedum spp |
Stonecrops |
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| Santolina spp |
Lavender Cotton |
Vinca spp |
Periwinkles |
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| Verbena peruviana |
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*In some locations, plant species may be considered as a weed unless carefully managed.
In all cases, you should consult with your local nursery to determine the suitability of plant species in your area
