Flammable Landscape plants

A defensible space of 30’ around a home is recommended for keeping your home less prone to catching fire. 

Within that space certain common landscape plants are highly discouraged due to their extreme flammability. Plants which contain high amounts of resin, thin bark, and dead foliage tend to be more flammable.

This is not an inclusive list of all flammable plants but those which are considered  highly flammable and are commonly used as landscape plants in Central Texas or can be found growing on their own.

These plants are NOT RECOMMENDED within 30 feet of a structure 

Shrubs

Broom Cytisus

American Holly Ilex opaca

Cherry laurel Prunus caroliniana

Dwarf palmetto Sabal minor

Prairie rose Rosa arkansana

Rosemary Rosemary officianalis

Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora

Wax myrtle Morella cerifera

Yaupon Ilex vomitoria

Trees

Acacia Acacia sp

Anacahuite (Wild Olive) Cordia boissieri

Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia

Cedar (Ashe juniper) Juniperus ashei

Chinaberry Melia azedarach

Grasses

Bamboo Bambusa sp

Big bluestem Andropogon gerardi

Big muhly (Lindheimer's) Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

Broomsedge Andropogon virginicus

Bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus

Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis

Fountain grass Pennisetum setaceum

Gulf Coast muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris

Northern sea oats Chasmanthium latifolium

Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans

Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium

Maiden grass Miscanthus sinensis

Mexican

feathergrass Nasella tennuissima

Pampas grass Cortaderia selloana

Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula

Switchgrass Panicum virgatum

Trees

Chinese Tallow Tree Sapium sebiferum

Cypress Cupressus sp

Live oak Quercus virginiana

Palms All

Pines All

Texas Mountain-Laurel Sophora secundiflora

Texas Sabal Palm Sabal texana

Thornless Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos

nermis

Vines

Grape Vitis sp

Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans