The images are almost as searing as the flames that recently cut a destructive swath through Southern California: the solitary house untouched by the fire, standing amid the charred rubble of surrounding homes.
Did fire-retardant plants help save those homes?
Possibly. Wind conditions, the heat of the fire, topography, construction, roofing materials and other factors all played a role in the destructiveness of Southern California's capricious blazes.
But fire safety and horticulture experts advise all homeowners to reconsider their landscaping and educate themselves on the proper use of fire-resistant plants--particularly now, during prime planting season.
"If you don't have it (fire-resistant landscaping), you've reduced your chances" of saving a home in a fire, said Bob Collis, Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman.
Experts say landscaping is the most important item in fire safety after roofing material. Although any plant can burn under the right conditions, properly designed and maintained landscape can greatly reduce the hazard.
Horticulturists say there are many fire-resistant plants that homeowners can consider for their property. But rather than rush out and buy large flats of ice plant, coyote bush or other fire-retardant species, homeowners should carefully plan and manage their landscaping.
"We need to get people to manage growth and choose wisely by putting plants in their proper place to minimize damage," said Kevin Connelly, author and horticulturist at the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley, a nonprofit organization devoted to native flora.
For example, the Dwarf Coyote Bush, a low-growing, deep-rooted, drought-resistant plant, is highly recommended as one of the most effective fire-retardant species. But it can be a fire hazard if the lush green top growth covers a tangle of dry, unpruned branches and leaves.
Succulents, with their high water content, are also fire-resistant. In particular, ice plant, which grows quickly and low to the ground, is considered ideal for forming a fire break, said Mike Wronkowski, head of ground covers and bedding flowers at Green Arrow Nursery in Sepulveda.
But ice plant has shallow roots, making it undesirable for steep slopes because it offers virtually no protection against hillside erosion, particularly after a wildfire.
