Top choices for firescaping

Here’s a list of the best succulents for firebreaks. They are readily available, can be cultivated from offsets or cuttings and fill in nicely with minimal care. Give them fast-draining soil and a full-sun location. Regular irrigation will promote lushness but is not essential.

Agave: Most common is Agave americana (century plant), but it gets as big as a Volkswagen – too large for most gardens. Many smaller agaves can be found in nurseries; a particularly lovely one is A. americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’ (3 to 4 feet tall and as wide).

Aloe: These range from fist-sized (Aloe nobilis, A. brevifolia) to tall trees (A. barberae, A. dichotoma). Common A. arborescens (at right) is considered mid-sized, but clumps become massive over time.

Crassula:Crassula ovata (jade plant) is the best-known shrub succulent; variegated varieties are bright yellow or green-and-cream. Similar in form is C. arborescens (silver dollar jade). A good ground cover for slopes and shady areas is C. multicava, which has dark green, oval leaves.

Portulacaria afra: This shrub succulent resembles jade but has red stems and smaller leaves. A yellow variegate grows lower to the ground and makes a good ornamental ground cover.

Senecio: Rapidly gaining in popularity is Senecio mandraliscae, a succulent ground cover that looks like blue French fries.

Opuntia (prickly pear): Cactuses with paddle-shaped leaves serve as both firebreak and security fence (and are used as such in Mexico). Most have needle-like spines, but a spineless variety exists.

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Debra Lee Baldwin