Fire Safe(r) Plant List [updated March 2023] Illustrated Plant List

Achillea tomentosa Common yarrow

native

Perennial herb

Lotus scoparius Deerweed

native

Perennial herb

Cynoglossum grande Hound's tongue, Western houndstongue, Adelinia

native

Perennial herb

BORAGINACEAE

Aesculus californica Buckeye, California buckeye, California horse chestnut

native

Tree

SAPINDACEAE

Agapanthus Africanus Lily of the nile

non-native

Perennial herb

Agave deserti Desert agave

native

Shrub

Agave utahensis Clark mountain agave, Utah agave

native

Shrub

Ajuga reptans Common bugle

non-native

Perennial herb

Alnus rhombifolia White alder

native

Tree

BETULACEAE

Alnus rubra Oregon alder, Red alder

native

Tree, Shrub

BETULACEAE

Aloe maculata

non-native

Perennial herb

ASPHODELACEAE

Ambrosia dumosa Burro weed, Burrobush, White bursage

native

Shrub

Amelanchier alnifolia Saskatoon serviceberry, Service berry

native

Shrub

Amorpha californica California false indigo, False indigo, Mock locust

native

Shrub

Anisocarpus madioides Woodland madia

native

Perennial herb

Apocynum cannabinum Indian hemp, Indianhemp dogbane, Hemp Dogbane

native

Perennial herb

APOCYNACEAE

Aquilegia eximia Serpentine columbine, Sticky columbine, Van Houtte's columbine

native

Perennial herb

Aquilegia formosa Crimson columbine, Sitka columbine, Western columbine

native

Perennial herb

Aquilegia pubescens Sierra columbine

native

Perennial herb

Aquilegia shockleyi Desert columbine

native

Perennial herb

Arbutus menziesii Madrono, Pacific madrone, Madrone

native

Tree

Arbutus unedo Strawberry tree

non-native

Tree

Arctostaphylos edmundsii Little sur manzanita

rare native
1B.2

Shrub

Arctostaphylos glandulosa Eastwood manzanita, Eastwood's manzanita

native

Shrub

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry manzanita, Kinnikinnick

native

Shrub

Arctostaphylos viscida Sticky whiteleaf manzanita

native

Tree, Shrub

Arctotheca calendula Cape weed

invasive non-native
moderate

Annual, Perennial herb

Argyranthemum frutescens Marguerite

non-native

Perennial herb

Armeria maritima Thrift seapink

native

Perennial herb

PLUMBAGINACEAE

Artemisia californica California sagebrush, Coast sagebrush, Coastal sage brush

native

Shrub

Artemisia pycnocephala Beach sagewort, Coastal sagewort

native

Perennial herb

Asarum caudatum Creeping wild ginger, Longtail wild ginger

native

Perennial herb

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

Asclepias speciosa Showy milkweed

native

Perennial herb

APOCYNACEAE

Astragalus pycnostachyus Loco weed, Marsh milk vetch, Marsh milkvetch

native

Perennial herb

Atriplex hymenelytra Desert holly, Desertholly saltbush

native

Shrub

CHENOPODIACEAE

Atriplex lentiformis Big saltbush

native

Shrub

CHENOPODIACEAE

Baccharis pilularis Coyote brush, Dwarf chaparral broom

native

Shrub

Bahiopsis laciniata San Diego County viguiera

native
4.3

Shrub

Berberis aquifolium Mountain grape, Mountaingrape, Oregon grape

native

Shrub

BERBERIDACEAE

Berberis aquifolium var. repens Creeping oregon grape, Dwarf mahonia

native

Shrub

BERBERIDACEAE

Calamagrostis foliosa Leafy reed grass, Leafy reedgrass

rare native
4.2

Perennial grass

Calliandra eriophylla Fairyduster, False mesquite

rare native
2B.3

Shrub

Camassia quamash Camas, Common camas

native

Perennial herb

Carex praegracilis Clustered field sedge, Field sedge

native

Perennial grasslike herb

CYPERACEAE

Carex spissa San diego sedge

native

Perennial grasslike herb

CYPERACEAE

Carpenteria californica Bush anemone, Tree anemone

rare native
1B.2

Shrub

HYDRANGEACEAE

Ceanothus gloriosus Glory mat, Point reyes ceanothus

native

Shrub

Ceanothus hearstiorum Hearst ranch buckbrush, Hearst's ceanothus

rare native
1B.2

Shrub

Ceanothus maritimus Maritime ceanothus, San luis obispo ceanothus

rare native
1B.2

Shrub

Ceanothus oliganthus Hairy ceanothus

native

Shrub

Ceanothus prostratus Mahala mats, Pinemat

native

Shrub

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Blueblossom

native

Tree, Shrub

Centaurea cineraria Dusty miller

non-native

Perennial herb

Centranthus ruber Jupiter's beard, Red valerian

non-native

Annual, Perennial herb

VALERIANACEAE

Cerastium tomentosum Snow in summer

non-native

Perennial herb

CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Ceratonia siliqua St. John's bread, Carob

non-native

Tree

Cercis occidentalis Redbud, Western redbud

native

Tree, Shrub

Cercocarpus betuloides Birch leaf mountain mahogany, Mountain mahogany

native

Tree, Shrub

Chamerion angustifolium Fireweed

native

Perennial herb

Chloropyron maritimum Salt marsh bird's beak

native

Annual herb

OROBANCHACEAE

Cirsium occidentale Cobweb thistle, Western thistle

native

Perennial herb

Cistus incanus Hairy rockrose

non-native

Shrub

CISTACEAE

Clarkia gracilis Clarkia, Farewell to spring, Graceful clarkia

native

Annual herb

Clarkia unguiculata Elegant clarkia, Mountain garland, Woodland clarkia

native

Annual herb

Clinopodium douglasii Yerba buena

native

Perennial herb

Satureja douglasii Yerba buena

native

Perennial herb

Cotyledon orbiculata Pig's ear

non-native

Perennial herb

Crassula connata Pigmy weed, Sand pygmy weed, Sand pygmyweed

native

Annual herb

Delphinium nudicaule Canyon larkspur, Red or Orange Larkspur, Red larkspur

native

Perennial herb

Dendromecon rigida Bush poppy, Tree poppy

native

Shrub

Dicentra formosa Pacific bleeding heart, Pacific bleedinghearts

native

Perennial herb

Diplacus aurantiacus Orange Bush Monkeyflower

native

Shrub

PHRYMACEAE

Diplacus longiflorus Southern bush monkeyflower

native

Shrub

PHRYMACEAE

Drosanthemum floribundum Ice plant, Rosy ice plant, Showy dewflower

non-native

Perennial herb

AIZOACEAE

Duchesnea indica Indian strawberry, Mock strawberry

non-native

Perennial herb

Dudleya abramsii Abrams' dudleya, Abrams' liveforever

native

Perennial herb

Dudleya lanceolata Lanceleaf liveforever, Southern california dudleya

native

Perennial herb

Dudleya pulverulenta Chalk dudleya

native

Perennial herb

Elymus condensatus Giant wild rye

native

Perennial grass

Emmenanthe penduliflora Whispering bells, Whisperingbells

native

Annual herb

HYDROPHYLLACEAE

Encelia californica Bush sunflower, California brittlebush, California encelia

native

Shrub

Epilobium canum California fuchsia, Hummingbird trumpet, zauschneria

native

Perennial herb

Eremothera boothii Booth's sun cup

native

Annual herb

Erigeron glaucus Seaside daisy, Seaside fleabane

native

Perennial herb

Eriogonum arborescens Santa cruz island buckwheat

native

Shrub

Eriogonum giganteum St. Catherine's lace

native

Shrub

Eriogonum grande Island buckwheat, Redflower buckwheat

native

Perennial herb

Eriogonum parvifolium Dune eriogonum, Sea cliff buckwheat, Seacliff buckwheat

native

Shrub

Eriogonum umbellatum Sulphur buckwheat, Sulphur flower buckwheat

native

Perennial herb

Eriogonum Wrightii Bastardsage, Wright's buckwheat

native

Perennial herb, Shrub

Eriophyllum confertiflorum Golden yarrow, Yellow yarrow

native

Shrub

Eriophyllum staechadifolium Lizard tail, Seaside golden yarrow, Seaside woolly sunflower

native

Perennial herb

Erysimum capitatum Sanddune wallflower, Western wallflower

native

Perennial herb

BRASSICACEAE

Escallonia rubra Red claws

non-native

Shrub

Eschscholzia californica California poppy

native

Annual, Perennial herb

Feijoa sellowiana Pineapple guava

non-native

Tree

MYRTACEAE

Festuca rubra Red fescue

native

Perennial grass

Fouquieria splendens Jacob's staff, Ocotillo

native

Shrub

FOUQUIERIACEAE

Fragaria chiloensis Beach strawberry

native

Perennial herb

Fragaria californica California strawberry, Wild strawberry, Wood strawberry

native

Perennial herb

Frangula californica California coffeeberry

native

Shrub

Fraxinus dipetala California ash, Flowering ash, Foothill ash

native

Tree, Shrub

OLEACEAE

Fremontodendron californicum California flannelbush, Flannel bush

native

Shrub

Gambelia speciosa Showy island snapdragon

rare native
1B.2

Shrub

Garrya elliptica Coast silk tassel, Coast silktassel, Silk tassel bush or quinine bush

native

Tree, Shrub

GARRYACEAE

Gaura lindheimeri Lindheimer's beeblossom

non-native

Perennial herb

Geranium californicum California cranesbill, California geranium

native

Perennial herb

GERANIACEAE

Verbena peruviana Peruvian mock vervain

non-native

Perennial herb

Grindelia stricta Coastal gumweed, Gumweed, Oregon gumweed

native

Perennial herb

Helenium puberulum Rosilla, Sneezeweed

native

Perennial herb

Helianthus californicus California sunflower

native

Perennial herb

Helichrysum petiolare Licorice plant

invasive non-native
limited

Shrub, Vine

Hemerocallis fulva Orange daylily

non-native

Perennial herb (bulb)

Hesperoyucca whipplei Chaparral yucca

native

Shrub

Heteromeles arbutifolia Christmas berry, Toyon

native

Shrub

Heuchera maxima Island alum root, Island alumroot, Jill of the rocks

rare native
1B.2

Perennial herb (rhizomatous)

SAXIFRAGACEAE

Heuchera micrantha Alum root, Crevice alumroot

native

Perennial herb

SAXIFRAGACEAE

Hypericum calycinum Aaron's beard

non-native

Shrub

HYPERICACEAE

Iberis sempervirens Evergreen candytuft

non-native

Annual herb

BRASSICACEAE

Iris douglasiana Douglas iris, Douglas' iris

native

Perennial herb

Iris macrosiphon Bowltube iris, Ground iris, Long tubed iris

native

Perennial herb

Juncus patens Common rush, Spreading rush

native

Perennial grasslike herb

JUNCACEAE

Justicia californica Beloperone, Chuparosa

native

Shrub

ACANTHACEAE

Keckiella breviflora Bush beardtongue, Gaping keckiella

native

Shrub

Kerria japonica Japanese rose

non-native

Kniphofia uvaria Redhot poker

invasive non-native
watch (high risk)

Perennial herb

ASPHODELACEAE

Lagerstroemia indica Crapemyrtle

non-native

Tree, Shrub

LYTHRACEAE

Lantana montevidensis Trailing lantana, Trailing shrubverbena

non-native

Vine, Shrub

Larrea tridentata South american creosote bush

native

Shrub

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE

Lavandula stoechas French lavender

non-native

Shrub

Lepechinia calycina White pitcher sage, Woodbalm, pitcher sage

native

Shrub

Leptosyne gigantea Giant coreopsis

native

Shrub

Lilium columbianum Columbia lily, Columbian lily, Oregon lily

native

Perennial herb

Lilium rubescens Chaparral lily, Redwood lily

rare native
4.2

Perennial herb (bulb)

Limonium perezii Canarian sea lavender, Perez's sealavender

non-native

Perennial herb

PLUMBAGINACEAE

Linaria maroccana Moroccan toad flax, Moroccan toadflax

non-native

Annual herb

Lonicera hispidula Pink honeysuckle

native

Vine, Shrub

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Lupinus albifrons var. collinus Silver bush lupine, Silver lupine, low growing silver lupine

native

Shrub

Lupinus microcarpus Chick lupine

native

Annual herb

Malacothrix glabrata Desert dandelion, Smooth desertdandelion

native

Annual herb

Malephora crocea Coppery mesembryanthemum

invasive non-native
watch (high risk)

Perennial herb

AIZOACEAE

Lavatera assurgentiflora Island mallow

native

Shrub

Malva assurgentiflora Island mallow

native

Shrub

Melica geyeri Geyer's onion grass, Geyer's oniongrass

native

Perennial grass

Melica imperfecta California melic, Coast range melic, Small flowered melica

native

Perennial grass

Melica torreyana Torrey melic, Torrey's melica, Torrey's melicgrass

native

Perennial grass

Monardella macrantha Hummingbird monardella, Red monardella

native

Perennial herb

Monardella Palmeri Palmer's monardella

rare native
1B.2

Perennial herb (rhizomatous)

Monardella villosa Coyote mint

native

Perennial herb

Myrica californica California wax myrtle

native

Tree, Shrub

MYRICACEAE

Muhlenbergia rigens Deergrass

native

Perennial grass

Myoporum parvifolium Slender myoporum

non-native

Tree, Shrub

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Nolina bigelovii Bigelow's nolina

native

Perennial herb

RUSCACEAE

Nolina interrata Dehesa beargrass, Dehesa nolina

rare native
1B.1

Perennial herb

RUSCACEAE

Oemleria cerasiformis Indian plum, Oso berry

native

Shrub

Papaver californicum Fire poppy, Western poppy

native

Annual herb

Pelargonium peltatum Ivy geranium, Ivyleaf geranium

non-native

Perennial herb, Shrub

GERANIACEAE

Penstemon heterophyllus Bunchleaf penstemon, Foothill penstemon

native

Perennial herb

Penstemon Newberryi Mountain pride

native

Perennial herb

Penstemon spectabilis Showy penstemon

native

Perennial herb

Phacelia imbricata Imbricate phacelia

native

Perennial herb

HYDROPHYLLACEAE

Phlomis fruticosa Shrubby jerusalem sage

non-native

Perennial herb

Phyla nodiflora Common lippia, Lippia, Turkey tangle frogfruit

native

Perennial herb

Pinus albicaulis Alpine white pine, Dwarf pine, Whitebark pine

native

Tree

PINACEAE

Pistacia chinensis Chinese pistache, Chinese pistachio

non-native

Tree

Pittosporum tobira Japanese cheesewood, Mock orange

non-native

Tree, Shrub

PITTOSPORACEAE

Platanus racemosa California sycamore, Western sycamore

native

Tree

PLATANACEAE

Polystichum munitum Western sword fern, Western swordfern

native

Fern

DRYOPTERIDACEAE

Populus fremontii Alamo cottonwood, Arizona cottonwood

native

Tree

SALICACEAE

Populus tremuloides Quaking aspen

native

Tree

SALICACEAE

Prunus ilicifolia Holly leaf cherry, Holly leaved cherry, Hollyleaf cherry

native

Tree, Shrub

Prunus lyonii Catalina cherry, Hollyleaf cherry, Island cherry

native

Tree

Psorothamnus spinosus Smoke tree, Smoketree

native

Tree, Shrub

Punica granatum Pomegranate

non-native

Shrub

LYTHRACEAE

Quercus agrifolia California live oak, Coast live oak

native

Tree

FAGACEAE

Quercus douglasii Blue oak

native

Tree

FAGACEAE

Ranunculus californicus California buttercup

native

Perennial herb

Rhamnus crocea Redberry buckthorn

native

Shrub

Rhaphiolepis indica

non-native

Rhododendron occidentale Western azalea

native

Tree, Shrub

Rhus integrifolia Lemonade berry, Lemonade sumac

native

Shrub

Rhus ovata Sugar bush, Sugar sumac

native

Shrub

Ribes aureum Golden currant

native

Shrub

Ribes sanguineum Flowering currant, Red flowering currant, Redflower currant

native

Shrub

Ribes viburnifolium Catalina currant, Island gooseberry, Santa catalina island currant

rare native
1B.2

Shrub

Romneya coulteri Coulter's matilija poppy

rare native
4.2

Perennial herb (rhizomatous)

Rosa californica California wild rose, California wildrose

native

Shrub

Salvia apiana White sage

native

Shrub

Salvia clevelandii Cleveland sage, Fragrant sage

native

Shrub

Salvia leucantha Mexican bush sage

non-native

Perennial herb

Salvia mellifera Black sage

native

Shrub

Salvia sonomensis Creeping sage, Sonoma sage

native

Perennial herb

Santolina chamaecyparissus Lavender cotton

non-native

Shrub

Rhus lancea African sumac

non-native

Tree

Sedum spathulifolium Broadleaf stonecrop, Pacific stonecrop, Stone crop

native

Perennial herb

Senecio spartioides Broom groundsel, Broomlike ragwort

native

Perennial herb

Sequoia sempervirens Coast redwood

native

Tree

CUPRESSACEAE

Sidalcea malviflora Checker bloom, Checker mallow, Dwarf checkerbloom

native

Perennial herb

Simmondsia chinensis Jojoba; goatnut, Jojobe

native

Shrub

SIMMONDSIACEAE

Sisyrinchium bellum Western blue eyed grass

native

Perennial herb

Sisyrinchium californicum California golden eyed grass, Golden blue eyed grass, Yellow eyed grass

native

Perennial herb

Solanum jasminoides Jasmine nightshade

non-native

Annual herb

SOLANACEAE

Solanum umbelliferum Blue witch nightshade, Bluewitch nightshade

native

Shrub

SOLANACEAE

Solidago velutina ssp. californica California goldenrod, Oreja de liebre

native

Perennial herb

Stachys bullata California hedge nettle, California hedgenettle, Southern hedge nettle

native

Perennial herb

Stachys byzantina Woolly hedgenettle

non-native

Perennial herb

Stipa lepida Foothill needle grass

native

Perennial grass

Stipa pulchra Purple needle grass

native

Perennial grass

Strelitzia reginae Bird-of-paradise

non-native

STRELITZIACEAE

Symphoricarpos albus Common snowberry

native

Shrub

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Symphoricarpos mollis Creeping snowberry, Trailing snowberry

native

Shrub

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Aster adscendens Western aster

native

Perennial herb

Tecoma capensis Cape honeysuckle

non-native

Vine, Shrub

BIGNONIACEAE

Teucrium fruticans Shrubby germander

non-native

Shrub

Trachelospermum jasminoides Confederate jasmine

non-native

Perennial herb

APOCYNACEAE

Trichostema lanatum Woolly bluecurls

native

Shrub

Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's spear

native

Perennial herb

THEMIDACEAE

Vaccinium ovatum California huckleberry, Evergreen huckleberry

native

Shrub

Verbena lasiostachys Common verbena, Vervain, Western verbena

native

Perennial herb

Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria

non-native

Perennial herb