Are you looking to make your yard not only beautiful but also safer in fire-prone areas? Fire-resistant ground covers are a fantastic solution to minimize fire risks while enhancing your landscape. These plants are known for their high moisture content, low flammability, and ability to act as a barrier against fire spread. Let’s explore 22 fire-resistant ground cover plants to help you create a safer outdoor space.
1. Ice Plant (Delosperma spp.)
Ice plants are fire-resistant because of their high water content and succulent leaves, which make them less likely to ignite. They thrive in dry climates and produce vibrant flowers, adding both beauty and safety to your landscape.
2. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
This low-growing perennial resists fire by forming a dense, moisture-retaining mat of foliage. Its colorful blooms add charm while helping to suppress the spread of flames.
3. Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)
Beach strawberries are fire-resistant due to their low-growing habit and ability to retain soil moisture. They are excellent for erosion control, reducing dry, exposed areas where fires could ignite.
4. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)
Blue Fescue’s fine-textured, drought-tolerant foliage is naturally fire-resistant. Its compact, clumping growth reduces airflow between plants, helping to slow fire spread.
5. Dwarf Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Dwarf periwinkle resists fire with its thick, evergreen leaves that retain moisture year-round. Its low, spreading growth covers bare ground, reducing the availability of dry fuel for fires.
6. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping thyme is fire-resistant because it grows close to the ground and retains moisture in its leaves. Its dense coverage reduces exposed soil and prevents the spread of fire. As a bonus, it’s aromatic and adds a beautiful, soft texture to your yard.
7. Ajuga (Bugleweed) (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga’s thick, glossy leaves retain water, making it naturally fire-resistant. Its low, spreading growth covers the ground efficiently, creating a barrier that helps block fire while adding deep purple and green tones to your landscaping.
8. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s Ear is fire-resistant due to its woolly, moisture-retentive leaves. These soft, silvery plants form dense mats that suppress weeds and reduce dry, exposed areas in your yard, helping to slow the spread of fire.
9. Clover (Trifolium spp.)
Clover is fire-resistant because it grows quickly, covers bare soil effectively, and maintains a higher water content than other ground covers. Additionally, clover enriches the soil with nitrogen, which can further support fire-resistant plant growth.
10. Sedum (Stonecrop) (Sedum spp.)
Sedum is a succulent, making it highly fire-resistant thanks to its ability to store water in its leaves. Its sprawling growth pattern covers the ground with a thick layer of fire-resistant foliage, making it an ideal choice for dry areas.
11. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Purslane resists fire with its water-storing leaves and low-growing, sprawling habit. This succulent thrives in hot, dry conditions and creates a moisture-rich barrier that is less likely to ignite, all while adding colorful flowers to your yard.
12. Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum spp.)
Hens and Chicks are fire-resistant due to their water-filled leaves, which are designed to survive dry and hot conditions. These succulents grow in compact rosettes, minimizing airflow around the plant and reducing fire spread, making them an ideal ground cover for fire-prone areas.
13. Aptenia (Baby Sun Rose) (Aptenia cordifolia)
Aptenia is fire-resistant thanks to its succulent leaves that retain moisture and its sprawling growth habit, which covers and protects the soil. Its bright green foliage and red flowers also make it an attractive addition to any fire-safe landscape.
14. Kalanchoe (Paddle Plant) (Kalanchoe spp.)
Kalanchoe is another succulent with thick, water-retaining leaves that resist fire. Its ability to thrive in dry conditions while staying moist helps slow or prevent fire spread. Its striking paddle-shaped leaves also add a modern touch to your yard.
15. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri)
Cotoneaster resists fire through its dense, moisture-rich leaves and ground-hugging growth habit. This woody ground cover creates a natural fire barrier while producing red berries that add color to your yard.
16. Bearberry (Kinnikinnick) (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Bearberry is fire-resistant due to its evergreen leaves that retain moisture and its ability to form a thick mat over the ground. It’s ideal for slopes and erosion-prone areas, reducing the chances of fire spreading uphill.
17. Juniper (Creeping Varieties) (Juniperus horizontalis)
Some creeping juniper varieties are considered fire-resistant due to their compact, low-growing habit and waxy foliage, which helps retain moisture. However, ensure you’re selecting fire-resistant types, as some junipers can be flammable in extremely dry conditions.
18. Manzanita (Dwarf Varieties) (Arctostaphylos spp.)
Dwarf manzanitas are fire-resistant thanks to their thick, leathery leaves and low, spreading growth. They maintain soil moisture and reduce exposed dry areas, making them an excellent choice for fire-safe landscaping, especially in dry regions.
19. Yarrow (Dwarf Varieties) (Achillea spp.)
Dwarf yarrow is fire-resistant due to its feathery foliage that retains moisture and its ability to grow densely, covering exposed soil. It is also drought-tolerant, thriving in dry conditions while reducing the risk of ignition. Plus, its vibrant flowers add a pop of color to your yard.
20. Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Snow-in-Summer resists fire with its silvery, moisture-rich leaves and dense, low-growing habit. It acts as a natural ground cover that minimizes airflow around dry areas, slowing fire spread. Its delicate white blooms make it both functional and visually stunning.
21. Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea)
Society garlic is fire-resistant because of its fleshy, water-retaining leaves that make it less likely to ignite. It grows in clumps that cover the soil effectively, and its purple flowers add a striking element to fire-safe landscaping.
22. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Roman chamomile’s fire-resistant properties come from its low-growing, mat-forming habit and moisture-rich foliage. This fragrant herb not only suppresses dry soil but also offers a calming aroma, making it a multifunctional addition to any yard.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.