MSU Extension Planning

Selecting the correct landscape plants to place next to or near your home could save it from catching fire. When wildfires occur, the fire moves along the ground or through brush or forests by igniting the vegetation or fuels ahead. If flammable vegetation is planted too close to a home or building and the vegetation ignites, it could also ignite the structure. Coniferous trees can ignite and “torch” during a wildfire. If these trees were growing next to a house or building, the structure would surely ignite. This is why it is important to select fire-resistant plants when landscaping around the home.