FireSmart BC Landscaping Hub

Find fire-resistant plants for your climate

Looking to find which fire-resistant plants will grow well in the particular climate that you live in? You’ve come to the right place. Using our tool below, British Columbians can make sustainable plant choices that can minimize the risk of structure damage due to wildfire. FireSmart selections can also be compatible with conserving water and attracting pollinators.

First, find your plant hardiness zone

To know which FireSmart plants will grow where you live, first, you need to know your hardiness zone. Hardiness describes a plant’s tolerance of low temperatures; it does not refer to toughness or pest and disease resistance. As a rule: always select plants that are equal to or lower than your zone number. For Canadian gardeners there are two relevant systems used for ranking hardiness: the Canadian system and the American system (USDA). The map on this page utilizes the Canadian hardiness zone system, and the plant chart has been converted from the USDA system – in approximation – to meet this Canadian system. The general rule of thumb, and the one we used to estimate, is that the Canadian hardiness number is one more than the USDA zone number. For example, if your Canadian hardiness number is 5, then your USDA zone number would be 4. This rule of thumb is approximate and it is not an exact conversion. We’ve included a column for each plant’s USDA hardiness zone number should you wish to verify with your local garden centre.

How to use this tool

1) Identify your Canadian hardiness zone: Locate your property by typing your address into the map below.
2) Select your Canadian hardiness zone: Then select the appropriate hardiness zone from the dropdown list below to filter plants that grow best in your area. Remember that the plant chart has approximated plants that grow in that zone based off of the USDA system.

A note about the plants listed below: The fire-resistant plants listed in our tool are based on research done to date, so the list is not exhaustive. With further research, additional plants may be added or removed. Also, not all plants on the chart are equally FireSmart. Some will ignite earlier than others. In addition, keep in mind that some areas of the province are drier than others; more caution is needed in those regions. Furthermore, some areas have specific microclimates that may not be perfectly represented in our map below. Always check with your local garden centre to verify your hardiness zone, or if you have any questions.

Select your zone

Select a zone above to get started.

Don’t forget: the plants listed below have been approximated from the USDA hardiness system to correspond with the zones from the Canadian Hardiness Zone map. We’ve listed their original USDA hardiness zones should you want to verify the conversion with your local garden center.

Trees Shrubs Vines and Groundcovers Grasses Perennials and Biennials Annuals Bulbs

Trees

Legend

Alders – Mountain Alder	Ribes alpinum	6	5	fs	6 – 7.5m	Low	No	D
Alders – Red Alder	Alnus rubra	6	5	fs-psh	13 – 15 m	Medium	No	D
Amur Cherry	Prunus maackia	3	2	fs-psh	10.5 – 13.5 m	Medium	Yes	D
Amur Corktree	Phellodendron amurense	4	3	fs	9 – 14 m	High	No	D
Amur Maackia	Maackia amurensis	4	3	fs	6- 9m	Medium	No	D
Ash – Green Ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	4	3	fs	12 – 18 m	Low, Medium, High	No	D
Ash – White Ash	Fraxinus americana	4	3	fs	12 – 18 m	Medium	No	D
Bittter Cherry	Prunus emarginata	5	4	fs-psh	15 m	Medium	Yes	D
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	4	3	fs-psh	15 – 18 m	Medium	Yes	D
Black Walnut	Juglans nigra	5	4	fs	12 – 18+ m	Medium	No	D
Blackgum / Black Tupelo	Nyssa sylvatica	4	3	fs-psh	9 – 15 m	High	No	D
Butternut	Juglans cinerea	4	3	fs	12 – 18 m	Medium	No	D
Catalpa	Catalpa speciosa	5	4	fs	12 – 15 m	Medium	No	D
Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana	3	2	fs	6- 9m	Medium	Yes	D
Common Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	3	2	fs-psh	12 – 15 m	Medium	No	D
Crab Apple – Ornamental	Malus spp.	5 – 9	4 – 8	fs-psh	4.5 – 6 m	Low, Medium	No	D
Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis	5	4	fs	7.5 – 10.5 m	Medium	No	D
European Beech	Fagus sylvatica	5	4	fs	15 – 18 m	High	No	D
Flowering Dogwood	Cornus florida	6	5	fs	6- 9m	High	No	D
Flowering Plum	Prunus cerasifera	5	4	fs	4.5 – 9 m	Low	Yes	D
Ginkgo / Maidenhair Tree	Ginkgo biloba	4	3	fs	15 – 25 m	Medium	No	D
Golden Chain Tree	Laburnum watereri	6	5	fs-psh	3.5 – 4.5 m	Medium	No	D
Golden Raintree	Koelreuteria paniculata	6	5	fs	9 – 12 m	Low	No	D
Hawthorn	Crataegus spp.	4 – 5	3 – 4	fs	4.5 – 6 m	Medium	No	D
Honeylocust	Gleditsia triacanthos	4	3	fs	9 – 21 m	Low	No	D
Hornbeam	Carpinus betulus	5	4	fs	12 – 18 m	High	No	D
Horsechestnut	Aesculus hippocastanum	4	3	fs	12 – 15 m	Medium	No	D
Japanese Pagoda Tree	Sophora japonica	5	4	fs-psh	15 – 21 m	Medium	No	D
Kentucky Coffee Tree	Gymnocladus dioicus	4	3	fs	12 – 15 m	Medium	No	D
Linden	Tilia spp.	3 – 6	2 – 5	fs	18 – 20 m	Medium, High	No	D
London Planetree	Platanus acerifolia	5	4	fs-psh	21 – 30 m	Medium	No	D
Madrone	Arbutus menziesii	8	7	fs	6 – 30 m	Low	No	D
Maple – Japanese Maple	Acer palmatum	6 – 7	5 – 6	ps	4.5 – 7.5 m	High	Yes	D
Maple – Norway Maple	Acer platanoides	4	3	fs	12 – 15 m	Medium, High	Yes	D
Maple – Red Maple	Acer rubrum	4	3	fs	12 – 18 m	High	Yes	D
Maple – Rocky Mountain Maple	Acer glabrum	5	4	fs-psh	3 – 4.5 m	Medium	Yes	D
Maple – Silver Maple	Acer saccharinum	4	3	fs	15 – 21 m	Medium, High	Yes	D
Maple – Vine Maple	Acer circinatum	5	4	fs-psh	4.5 – 6 m	Medium, High	Yes	D
Maples – Amur Maple	Acer ginnala	3	2	fs-psh	4.5 – 6 m	Medium	Yes	D
Maples – Bigleaf Maple	Acer macrophyllum	6	5	fs	9 – 23 m	High	Yes	D
Mayday Tree	Prunus padus commutata	4	3	fs-psh	9 – 12 m	Medium	No	D
Mulberry	Morus alba	5	4	fs-psh	9 – 15 m	Medium	Yes	D
Oaks – Bur Oak	Quercus macrocarpa	3	2	fs	21 – 24 m	Medium	No	D
Oaks – Garry Oak	Quercus garryana	7	6	fs	12 – 27 m	High	No	D
Oaks – Pin Oak	Quercus palustris	5	4	fs	15 – 21 m	Medium	No	D
Oaks – Red Oak	Quercus rubra	5	4	fs	18 – 23 m	Medium	No	D
Oaks – White Oak	Quercus alba	4	3	fs	15 – 25 m		No	N/A
Pear	Pyrus spp.	4 – 9	3 – 8	fs	9 – 15 m	Medium	No	D
Pin Cherry	Prunus pennsylvanica	3	2	fs	12 m	Low, Medium	Yes	D
Poplars – Cottonwood	Populus spp.	3 – 4	2 – 3	fs	40 m	Medium	No	D
Poplars – Quaking Aspen / Trembling Aspen	Populus tremuloides	2	1	fs-psh	9 – 12 m	Medium, High	No	D
Purple Robe Locust (other Black Locusts are invasive)	Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’	4	3	fs	9 – 12 m	Low	No	D
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum	5	4	fs-psh	9 – 18 m	High	No	D
Schubert Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’	4	3	fs-psh	6 – 9 m	Medium	Yes	D
Staghorn Sumac	Rhus typhina	4	3	fs-psh	4.5 – 7.5 m	Medium	No	D
Sweetgum	Liquidambur styraciflua	6	5	fs	18 – 23 m	Medium	No	D
Tulip Tree	Liriodendron tulipifera	5	4	fs	21 – 27 m	High	No	D
Water Birch	Betula occidentalis	3	2	fs-psh	6 – 9 m	High	No	D
Weeping Willow	Salix babylonica	6	5	fs	9 – 12 m	High	Yes	D

Shrubs

Legend

Alpine Currant	Ribes alpinum	3	2	fs-psh	0.90 – 1.8 m	Low, Medium	Yes	D
Antelope Bitterbrush	Purshia tridentata	4	3	fs	1- 2m	Medium	Yes	D
Barberry	Berberis sp.	5 – 10	4 – 9	fs	0.45 – 1.5 m	Low	No	D
Beaked Hazelnut / Filbert	Corylus cornuta	5	4	fs-psh	1.2 – 2.4 m	Low	No	D
Blue-mist Spirea	Caryopteris x clandonensis	6	5	fs-psh	0.90 – 1.5 m	Low	No	D
Blueberry, Huckleberry	Vaccinum spp.	3 – 9	2 – 8	fs-psh	0.15 – 3.5 m	Medium	Yes	D
Bog Labrador Tea / Indian Tea / Labrador Tea	Rhododendron groenlandicum	3	2	fs-psh	0.50 – 01.5 m	High	No	B
Buckbrush / Snowbrush / Sticky Laurel	Ceanothus velutinous	5	4	fs-psh	0.5 – 3 m	Low	No	B
Buffaloberry / Indian Ice Cream / Soapberry / Soopalallie	Shepherdia spp.	3	2	fs	1.8 – 3.0 m	Very Low	No	D
Burning Bush	Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’	5	4	fs-psh	1.2 – 1.8 m	High	No	D
Ceanothus	Ceanothus ovatus	5	4	fs-psh	60 – 90 cm	Low	No	D
Chokeberry	Aronia spp.	4 – 5	3 – 4	fs-psh	1.8 – 3 m	Medium	No	D
Cinquefoil, Potentilla	Potentilla fruticosa	3	2	fs-psh	0.3 – 1.2 m	Low	No	D
Common Lilac	Syringa vulgaris	4	3	fs-psh	1.5 – 4.5 m	Low, Medium	No	D
Cotoneaster, Cranberry	Cotoneaster apiculatus	5	4	fs-psh	90 cm	Medium	No	B
Cotoneaster, Peking	Cotoneaster acutifolius	5	4	fs-psh	1. 8 – 3 m	Low, Medium	No	D
Cranberry Bush	Viburnum trilobum	3	2	fs-psh	1.2 – 3.5 m	Medium	No	D
Cranberry, High-bush	Viburnum edule	6	5	fs	1.8 – 2.5 m	Medium	No	D
Creeping Holly	Mahonia repens	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 45 cm	Medium	No	B
Daphne, Carol Mackie	Daphne x burkwoodii	5	4	fs-psh	0.60 – 1.2 m	Medium	No	B
Devil’s club	Oplopanas horridus	5	4	sh	1.8 m	High	No	D
Double Flowering Plum / Flowering Almond	Prunus triloba	4	3	fs-psh	3.5 – 4.5 m	Low, Medium	Yes	D
Elderberry	Sambucus spp.	4 – 6	3 – 5	fs-psh	1.5 – 9 m	Low	No	D
Firethorn / Pyrcantha	Pyracantha coccinea	7	6	fs-psh	1.8 – 5.5 m	Low, Medium	No	B
Forsythia	Forsythia spp.	5 – 6	4 – 5	fs	2.5 – 3 m	Low, Medium	No	D
Heather	Calluna vulgaris	5	4	fs-psh	10 – 60 cm	Medium	No	B
Japanese Kerria	Kerria japonica	5	4	ps	0.9 – 1.8 m	Medium	No	D
Mahala Mat	Ceanothus prostratus	7	6	fs	2.5 – 7.5 cm	Low	No	D
Mock Orange	Philadelphus sp.	5	4	fs-psh	1.8 – 2.4 m	Low, Medium	Yes	D
Nanking Cherry	Prunus tomentosa	3	2	fs-psh	1.8 – 3 m	Medium	Yes	D
Ninebark	Physocarpus opulifolius	3	2	fs-psh	1.5 – 3 m	Low, Medium	No	D
Oakleaf Hydrangea	Hydrangea quercifolia	6	5	fs-psh	1.2 – 1.8 m	Medium	No	D
Oceanspray	Holodiscus discolor	6	5	fs-psh	1.8 – 2.7 m	Medium	Yes	D
Orchid Rockrose	Cistus purpureus	9	8	fs	0.90 – 1.20 m	Low	No	B
Oregon Boxwood	Paxistima myrtifolia	6	5	fs-psh	0.30 – 1.2 m	High	No	B
Oregon Grape	Mahonia aquifolium	4	3	fs-psh	1.5 – 1.8 m	Low, Medium	Yes	B
Pacific Rhododendron	Rhododendron macrophylum	7	6	fs-psh	1.8 – 3.6 m	High	No	B
Point Reyes Ceanothus	Ceanothus gloriosus	8	7	fs-psh	30 – 90 cm	Low	No	B
Privet	Ligustrum spp.	4 – 9	3 – 8	fs-psh	1.8 – 4.5 m	Medium	No	B
Purple-Leaf Sand Cherry	Prunus cistena	3	2	fs-psh	2- 3m	Medium	Yes	D
Quince	Chaenomeles spp.	5	4	fs-psh	0.6 – 3 m	Medium	No	D
Rabbitbrush / Rabbitbush	Ericameria nauseosa	4	3	fs	1m	Very Low	Yes	D
Raspberry	Rubus sp.	4 – 6	3 – 5	fs-psh	2 – 150 cm	Medium	Yes	D
Red-flowering Currant	Ribes sanguineum	6	5	fs-psh	3m	Low, Medium	Yes	D
Redosier Dogwood / Red-twig Dogwood	Cornus sericea	3	2	fs	2.1 – 3m	Low, Medium, High	No	D
Rose of Sharon	Hibiscus syriacus	6	5	fs-psh	2.5 – 3.5 m	Medium	No	D
Rose, Rugosa	Rosa rugosa ‘Hansa’	3	2	fs-psh	1.5 – 1.8 m	Low, Medium	No	D
Rose, Wood’s	Rosa woodsii	5	4	fs-psh	0.90 – 1.8 m	Medium	No	D
Salal	Gaultheria shallon	7	6	fs-psh	0.30 – 3 m	High	No	B
Saskatoon /Serviceberry	Amelanchier sp.	5	4	fs-psh	2.5 – 3.5 m	Low	No	D
Siberian Peashrub	Caragana arborescens	3	2	fs-psh	4.5 – 6 m	Very Low, Low	No	D
Silverberry	Elaeagnus commutata	3	2	fs	1. 8 – 3.5 m	Low	No	D
Smoke Tree	Cotinus coggygria	5	4	fs	3 – 4. 5 m	Low	No	D
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus	4	3	fs-psh	1.2 – 1.8 m	Low	Yes	D
Spirea	Spiraea spp.	4	3	fs-psh	0.60 – 1.2 m	Low, Medium	No	D
Spirea, Hardhack / Western	Spiraea douglasii	5	4	fs-psh	0.90 – 1.8 m	Medium	No	D
Sumac, Fragrant	Rhus aromatica	4	3	fs-psh	0.6 – 1.8 m	Very Low	No	D
Sumac, Smooth	Rhus glabra	3	2	fs-psh	2.75 – 4.5 m	Low	No	D
Tallhedge Glossy Buckthorn	Rhamnus frangula	3	2	fs-psh	2.5 – 3.5 m	Medium	No	D
Tatarian Honeysuckle	Lonicera tatarica	4	3	fs-psh	3 – 3.5 m	Medium	No	D
Western Azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	7	6	fs-psh	1.5 m	High	No	D
Western Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana	3	2	fs-psh	5.5 – 7.5 m	Medium	Yes	D
Western Mountain Ash	Sorbus scopulina	3 – 5	2 – 4	fs-psh	5m	High	No	D
Western Sandcherry	Prunus besseyi	4	3	fs-psh	1.2 – 1.8 m	Medium	Yes	D
Willow	Salix spp.	3	2	fs	1.8 – 3 m	High	Yes	D
Witchhazel	Hamamelis spp.	4 – 6	3 – 5	fs-psh	1.8 – 9 m	Medium	No	D

Vines and Groundcovers

Legend

Beach Wormwood / Dusty Miller	Artemisia stelleriana	4	3	fs	20 cm	Low	No	B
Carpet Bugle	Ajuga reptans	5	4	fs-psh	10 – 25 cm	Medium	No	D
Clematis	Clematis spp.	4 – 6	3 – 5	ps	1.5 – 1.8 m	High	No	D
Climbing Rose	Rosa setigera	5	4	fs-psh	1.0 – 4.5 m	Medium	No	D
Cotoneaster, Horizontal	Cotoneaster horizontalis	5	4	fs-psh	60 – 90 cm	Medium	No	D
Cottoneaster, Bearberry	Cotoneaster dammeri	6	5	fs-psh	30 – 45 cm	Medium	No	B
Creeping Potentilla / Spring Cinquefoil	Potentilla neumanniana ‘Nana’	5	4	fs-psh	5 – 10 cm	Medium	No	D
Dead Nettle	Lamium sp.	4	3	fs-psh	10 – 30 cm	Medium	No	D
Honeysuckle	Lonicera sp.	5	4	fs-psh	spread 3+ m	Low	No	D
Japanese Spurge	Pachysandra terminalis	6	5	fs-psh	15 – 20 cm	Medium	No	B
Kinnickinnick	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	3	2	fs-psh	10 – 20 cm	Very Low, Low	Yes	B
Lily-turf	Liriope spicata	5	4	fs-psh	20 – 30 cm	Medium	No	D
Perrenial Sweet Pea	Lathyrus latifolius	4	3	fs-psh	1.8-2.7 m	Low	No	D
Pussytoes	Antennaria rosea	5	4	fs	10 – 30 cm	Low, Medium	No	B
Sedum / Stonecrop (creeping)	Sedum sp.	4	3	fs-psh	5 – 30 cm	Very Low	Yes	D
Silver Spreader	Artemisia caucasica	5	4	fs-psh	15 – 20 cm	Low	No	B
Snow-In-Summer	Cerastium tomentosum	4	3	fs-psh	15 – 30 cm	Low	No	B
Thrift	Armeria maritima	5	4	fs-psh	15 – 25 cm	Low	No	B
Thyme	Thymus spp.	4 – 6	3 – 5	fs	1 cm	Low	No	B
Trumpet Vine	Campsis radicans	5	4	fs	6 – 12 m	Medium	No	D
Virginia Creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	4	3	fs-sh	9 – 15+ m	Low, Medium	No	D
Wintercreeper	Euonymus fortunei	5	4	fs-sh	10 – 15 cm	Medium	No	B
Wintergreen	Gaultheria procumbens	4	3	fs-psh	15 cm	Medium	No	B

Perennials and Biennials

Legend

Alfalfa	Medicago sativa	6	5	fs	100 cm	Low	No	N/A
Aster	Aster spp.	4	3	fs	0.15 – 1.8 m	Medium	Yes	N/A
Balloon Flower	Platycodon grandiflorus	4	3	fs	75 – 90 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Basket of Gold	Aurinia saxatalis	4	3	fs	20 – 45 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Beardtongue / Penstemon	Penstemon spp.	4	3	fs-psh	10 – 120 cm	Low	No	N/A
Beebalm (Native) / Wild Bergamot	Monarda fistulosa	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 60 cm	Low	Yes	N/A
Bergenia	Bergenia cordifolia	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 35 cm	High	No	N/A
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia fulgida	4	3	fs	60 – 90 cm	Medium	Yes	N/A
Blanket Flower	Gaillardia sp.	4	3	fs	20 – 90 cm	Low	Yes	N/A
Blue Vervain	Verbena hastata	4	3	fs	50 – 150 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum	4	3	fs-psh	50 – 100 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Canadian Violet	Viola canadensis	4	3	fs-psh	30 cm	High	No	N/A
Candytuft	Iberis sempervirens	4	3	fs	23 – 30 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Catmint	Nepeta racemosa	4	3	fs	30 – 60 cm	Low, Medium	Yes	N/A
Chives	Allium sp.	5	4	fs-psh	30 – 60 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Columbine	Aquilegia sp.	4	3	fs-psh	25 – 90 cm	Medium	Yes	N/A
Common Harebell	Campanula rotundifolia	4	3	fs-psh	15 – 30 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Coral Bells / Heuchera	Heuchera sanguinea	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 50 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Coreopsis, Dwarf Mouse Ear	Coreopsis auriculata var. Nana	4	3	fs	30 – 60 cm	Low	No	N/A
Coreopsis, Tickseed	Coreopsis sp.	4	3	fs-psh	25 – 60 cm	Low	No	N/A
Cranesbill, Blood-red	Geranium sanguineum	4	3	fs-psh	10 – 30 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Cranesbill, Grayleaf	Geranium cinereum	5	4	fs-psh	10 – 15 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Cranesbill, Wild Geranium	Geranium maculatum	6	5	fs-psh	45 – 75 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Cushion Spurge	Euphorbia epithymoides	4	3	fs	30 – 45 cm	Low	No	N/A
Daylily	Hemerocallis hybrids	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 120 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Delphinium	Delphinium sp.	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 210 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Dianthus / Garden Carnation / Pinks	Dianthus sp.	4	3	fs-psh	5 – 30 cm	Medium	No	N/A
False Rockcress	Aubrieta deltoidea	5	4	fs-psh	7.5 – 20 cm	Low	No	N/A
Fireweed	Epilobium angustifolium	4	3	fs-psh	60 – 90 cm	Low	No	N/A
Fleabane	Erigeron hybrids	5	4	fs	<30 cm	Low	No	N/A
Fringed Sage / Pasture Sage	Artemisia frigida	4	3	fs	30 – 60 cm	Very Low	No	N/A
Goldenrod	Solidago canadensis	4	3	fs	30-175 cm	Low	Yes	N/A
Hen-and-chicks	Sempervivum sp.	5	4	fs-psh	5 – 15 cm	Very Low, Medium	No	N/A
Hollyhock	Alcea rosea	4	3	fs	120 – 180 cm	Medium, High	No	N/A
Hosta / Plantain Lily	Hosta sp.	4	3	fs-psh	15 – 90 cm	High	No	N/A
Ice Plant – Purple	Delosperma cooperi	6	5	fs-psh	2.5 – 10 cm	Low	No	N/A
Ice Plant – Yellow	Delosperma nubigenum	5	4	fs-psh	2.5 – 7.5 cm	Low	No	N/A
Indian Potato, Spring Beauty	Claytonia lanceolata	6	5	fs	15 – 45 m	High	No	N/A
Iris	Iris hybrids	4	3	fs	40 – 60 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Jacob’s Ladder	Polemonium spp.	3	2	fs-psh	30 – 90 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Joe Pye Weed	Eupatorium maculatum	6	5	fs-psh	1 – 1.5 m	Medium	No	N/A
Lady’s Mantle	Alchemilla sp.	4	3	ps	30 cm	Medium, High	No	N/A
Lamb’s Ears	Stachys byzantina	5	4	fs	30 – 38 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Lavender	Lavandula sp.	5	4	fs	30 – 60 cm	Medium	Yes	N/A
Leopard’s Bane	Doronicum sp.	5	4	fs-psh	30 – 60 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Lily-of-the-valley	Convallaria majalis	3	2	sh	<30 cm	High	No	N/A
Lupine, Bigleaf	Lupinus polyphyllus	6	5	fs-psh	150 cm	Medium	Yes	N/A
Lupine, Russell Hybrids	Lupinus hybrids	5	4	fs-psh	45 – 120 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Mariposa Lily	Calochortus macrocarpus	4	3	fs	50 cm	Low	Yes	N/A
Mexican Hat / Prairie Coneflower	Ratibida columnifera	4	3	fs	60 cm	Medium	Yes	N/A
Missouri Goldenrod / Prairie Goldenrod / Smooth Goldenrod	Solidago missourinesis	4	3	fs	30 – 60 cm	Medium	Yes	N/A
Monkshood	Aconitum spp.	4	3	fs-psh	45 – 60 cm	High	No	N/A
Moss Phlox	Phlox subulata	4	3	fs	10 – 15 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Nepal Cinquefoil	Potentilla nepalensis	6	5	fs-psh	45 – 60cm	Low	No	N/A
Northern Bedstraw	Galium boreale	6	5	sh	<30 cm	High	No	N/A
Old Man’s Whiskers / Prairie Smoke	Geum triflorum	6	5	fs-psh	45 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Oriental Poppy	Papaver orientale	4	3	fs-psh	60 – 90 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Painted Daisy	Tanacetum coccineum	6	5	fs-psh	60 cm	Low	No	N/A
Pasque Flower	Pulsatilla patens	6	5	fs-psh	30 cm	Medium, High	No	N/A
Pearly Everlasting	Anaphalis margaritacea	5	4	fs	20 – 90 cm	Low	No	N/A
Perennial Flax	Linum perenne	3	2	fs-psh	30 – 50 cm	Low	No	N/A
Perennial Salvia / Sage	Salvia spp.	4 – 6	3 – 5	fs	30 – 120 cm	Low, Medium	Yes	N/A
Prickly Pear Cactus	Opuntia polycantha	4	3	fs	5 – 60 cm	Low	No	N/A
Primrose	Oenothera spp.	4	3	fs-psh	15 – 30 cm	Low	No	N/A
Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	4	3	fs	60 – 90 cm	Medium	Yes	N/A
Red Valerian	Centranthus ruber	5	4	fs-psh	60 – 75 cm	Low	No	N/A
Red-Hot Poker	Kniphofia uvaria	5	4	fs	30 – 120 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Rockcress	Arabis sp.	4	3	fs	<30 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Russian Sage	Perovskia atriplicifolia	5	4	fs	90 – 150 cm	Low, Medium	Yes	N/A
Saxifrage	Saxifraga hirsuta	6	5	fs-psh	15 cm	Low, Medium, High	No	N/A
Scarlet Gilia	Ipomopsis aggregata	8	7	fs-psh	30 – 60 cm	Very Low	No	N/A
Sea Pinks	Armeria maritima	4	3	fs-psh	15 – 30 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Sea-lavender / Statice	Limonium latifolium	5	4	fs	75 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Sedum / Stonecrop (upright)	Sedum spectabile	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 45 cm	Low	Yes	N/A
Sensitive Fern	Onoclea sensibilis	5	4	ps-sh	50 cm	High	No	N/A
Shasta Daisy	Leucanthemum x superbum	5	4	fs-psh	60 – 90 cm	Low, Medium	No	N/A
Shooting Star	Dodecatheon meadia	5	4	ps-sh	50 cm	High	No	N/A
Silver Lupine	Lupinus argenteus	4	3	ps	30 – 90 cm	Low	No	N/A
Soapwort	Saponaria sp.	3	2	fs	10 – 23 cm	Low	No	N/A
Speedwell / Veronica	Veronica spicata	4	3	fs-psh	2.5 – 15 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Strawberry, Wild	Fragaria sp.	6	5	fs	20 – 25 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Sulphur Buckwheat / Sulphur Flower	Eriogonum umbellatum	5	4	fs	30 – 90 cm	Very Low	Yes	N/A
Sun Rose	Helianthemum nummularium	4	3	fs-psh	30 – 50 cm	Low	No	N/A
Swamp Milkweed	Asclepias incarnata	4	3	fs-psh	1.2 m	Medium	No	N/A
Virginia Bluebells	Mertensia virginica	4	3	ps	50 cm	High	No	N/A
Wild Ginger, Winterfat	Asarum caudatum	8	7	ps	10 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Windflower	Anemone blanda	6	5	fs-psh	15 – 30 cm	Medium	No	N/A
Yarrow	Achillea sp.	5	4	fs	15 – 90 cm	Very Low	Yes	N/A
Yucca	Yucca filamentosa	5	4	fs-psh	60 – 90 cm	Very Low	No	N/A

Legend

Irrigation requirements during growing season:

Very Low: Less than 350 mm (14”)
Low: About 350-450 mm (14-18”)
Medium: About 450 mm+ (18”+)
High: About 500 cm+ (20”+)

Turfgrass is in a category all by itself. It uses 890 -1020 mm (35-40 inches) per year. Most common component of turfgrass mix in BC: Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)

Some plants fit into more than one water use category as they are more adaptable. For greatest success and efficient water use, group plants together with similar water requirements. Not all plants are suitable for every area. Check plant specific requirements.

fs: Full sun
ps: Part sun
sh: Full shade
fs-psh: Full sun to part shade
fs-sh: Full sun to full shade
ps-sh: Part sun to full shade

More about this tool

Some columns in the plant chart above are sortable. To sort by a certain column, and/or change the sorting directionality, click on the corresponding column header.
The plants in this chart are based off of data from Natural Resources Canada. Please note that while the data covers most of BC, a small number of coastal regions may not be projected in the current data set. If your address is not specified as being a certain hardiness zone, please contact your local garden center for further information.
Annuals grow in all USDA Hardiness Zones thus do not pertain to a particular zone.

Footnotes

* Native plants that may not be commercially available.

† This plant has multiple varieties – some of which are more hardy than others. Please consult your garden center to determine whether a specific variety will grow in your zone.

Fire-resistant plant of the month

Every month a fire-resistant plant is featured. More than just being fire-resistant, these plants carry cultural significance, and are often traditionally important for food security of the community.

Artwork created by TunkaCikala Peoples, a Sn̓ʕay̓ckstx/Sinixt artist from Arrow Lakes in British Columbia.

Mockorange

(a.k.a. Philadelphus x virginalis)

Mockorange is a fire-resistant shrub that puts on a show of stunning, sweetly scented, white flowers in late spring. Once the blooms fade, the plant recedes into the background and should be used with other plants that can steal the show. It is adaptable, easy to grow, and useful for hedges and screening.

Grows from 0.9 m – 2.1 m depending on the cultivar
Does best in full sun to partial shade
Requires relatively low maintenance

Which plants should you avoid?

Highly flammable plants provide fuel for wildfire, and can increase fire intensity. This chart provides a list of some common, high risk plants that are best to avoid. In general, highly flammable plants often contain fine, dry, dead material within the plant such as twigs, needles, and leaves. They also may contain loose papery bark that burns easily, or have stems, branches or leaves that contain volatile waxes, terpenes or oils.

Chart notes:

Leaf types: (D): Deciduous, (C): Coniferous, (B): Broadleaf Evergreen
Ponderosa Pine: Thicker bark helps to protect this tree
Larch: Higher moisture content of foliage makes this tree slightly less risky

Fire Hazard Plants

Common Name	Scientific Name	Risk Level	Leaf Type
Arborvitae (Cedar)	Thuja spp.	Highest Risk	C
Broom	Genista spp.	Highest Risk	B
Cedrus	Cedar spp.	Highest Risk	C
Douglas Fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii	Highest Risk	C
Firs	Abies spp.	Highest Risk	C
Fountain Grass	Pennisetum spp.	Highest Risk
Holly	Ilex spp.	Highest Risk	B
Juniper	Juniperus spp.	Highest Risk	C
Pampas Grass	Cortaderia selloana	Highest Risk
Pine	Pinus spp.	Highest Risk	C
Ponderosa Pine	Pinus ponderosa	Higher Risk	C
Spruce	Picea spp.	Highest Risk	C
Larch	Larix spp.	High Risk	D
Yew	Taxus spp.	Highest Risk	C

Learn more about FireSmart landscaping

Check out our page on FireSmart landscaping tips, instructions, and best practices when it comes to keeping your yard and property fire-resistant. For a quick, visual way to determine which plants are considered more fire-resistant at the point of purchase, learn more about the FireSmart BC Plant Program and check for a participating store near you.

Landscaping tips Plant program