Choosing the Right Plants - University of Nevada, Reno

Cerro Grande Fire

Los Alamos,

New Mexico 2000

235 homes destroyed

“My examination suggests

that the abundance

and ubiquity of pine

needles, dead leaves, cured

vegetation, flammable

shrubs, wood piles, etc.

adjacent to, touching and

or covering the homes

principally contributed to

the residential losses.”

Investigation of the Cerro Grande Fire

Jack Cohen, Ph.D.,

USDA Forest Service

8 • UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION^

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR NORTHERN NEVADA’S HIGH FIRE HAZARD AREAS

Based on these characteristics, homeowners living in high fire

hazard areas should select the following types of plants for use

within 30 feet or more of the house:

Emphasize herbaceous plants, such as lawn, conservation grasses, some

ground covers, annual and perennial flowers, and bulbs.

Use deciduous shrubs that are less than 2 feet in height.

Select deciduous trees.

Do not use evergreen shrubs and trees within this area.

Pages 14-51 offer examples of plants that meet these criteria.

Not only are these plants good choices for high fire hazard landscapes, they

are also easily grown in many areas of northern Nevada. They are presented

under headings: Flowers, Ground Covers & Conservation Grasses, Shrubs,

and Trees. Please note there are other plants not shown in this publication

that would work equally as well.

The plants presented in this publication as good plant choices for high fire

hazard areas possess the desirable characteristics described above. Test results

documenting reduced flammability are not available for plants adapted to

northern Nevada’s growing conditions.

3’

10’

 Within at least 3 feet of

the house, emphasize irrigated

herbaceous and succulent plants,

rock, gravel, and hard surfaces.

If trees are desired within 30 feet of

the house, select deciduous types and

locate so the canopy of mature trees

is not within 10 feet of the house.