The Maine Forest Service’s Firewise Communities / USA program

Maine fire-resistant plant list (pdf format)

This is a partial list of fire–resistant plants that are approved by the Maine Forest Service for use when landscaping within 30 - 100 feet of a structure. Using these plants within the "home ignition zone" can reduce the likelihood of a fire being carried from a forested area to the home.

These plants have characteristics that make them less likely to burn in the event of a wildfire, but no trees or plants are entirely resistant to fire. We also advise homeowners to isolate groups of plants in small “islands” of combustible fuels, so that in the event of a large wildfire, they are less likely to allow the fire to spread to a nearby structure.

If the homeowner or landscaper desires further information on how to reduce the risk of wildfire near homes, please contact the Maine Forest Service at 1-800-750-9777 or at maine.forestrangers@maine.gov

Trees

Red maple - Acer rubrum
Sugar maple - Acer saccharum
Mountain maple - Acer spicatum
Striped maple - Acer pensylvanicum
Yellow birch - Betula alleghaniensis
Paper birch - Betula papyrifera
Gray birch - Betula populifolia
American hornbeam/Blue-beech - Carpinus caroliniana
Pagoda dogwood - Cornus alternifolia
Cockspur thorn - Crataegus crusgalli
White ash - Fraxinus americana
Green ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Black gum - Nyssa sylvatica
American hophornbeam - Ostrya virginiana
Bigtooth aspen - Populus grandidentata
Quaking/Trembling aspen - Populus tremuloides
Pin/fire/bird cherry - Prunus pensylvanica
Black cherry - Prunus serotina
White oak - Quercus alba
Northern red oak - Quercus rubra
Black willow - Salix nigra
Basswood/American linden - Tilia americana

Shrubs

Buttonbush - Cephalanthus occidentalis
Sweetfern - Comptonia peregrina
American hazelnut - Corylus americana
Bush-honeysuckle - Diervilla lonicera
Common witchhazel - Hamamelis virginiana
Winterberry/Black alder - Ilex verticillata
Beach plum - Prunus maritima
Chokecherry - Prunus virginiana
Staghorn sumac - Rhus hirta (Rhus typhina)
Meadow rose - Rosa blanda
Pasture rose - Rosa carolina
Virginia rose - Rosa virginiana
Pussy willow - Salix discolor
American elder - Sambucus canadensis
Scarlet elder - Sambucus racemosa
Highbush blueberry - Vaccinium corymbosum
Mapleleaf viburnum - Viburnum acerifolium
Arrowhead vibernum - Viburnum dentatum
Hobblebush - Vibrnum lantanoides
Nannyberry - Viburnum lentago
Witherod/wildraisin - Viburnum nudum
Highbush cranberry - V. opulus var. americanum (V. o. var. trilobum)

Vines and Ground Covers

Bearberry/Kinnikinnick - Arctastaphylos uva-ursi
American bittersweet - Calastrus scandens
Checkerberry/Wintergreen - Gaultheria procumbens
Woodbine/Virginia creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Lowbush blueberry - Vaccinium augustifolium
Cranberry - Vaccinium macrocarpon

Perennials

Columbine - Aquilegia canadensis
Blue Flag - Iris versicolor
Violet - Viola species

Note: Flowering plants may generally be used, however, the use of tree bark in landscaping should be minimal and always kept moist.

Grass

All grasses are acceptable as long as they kept short and watered.

Ferns

The use of ferns should be avoided within 30 feet of a structure. In the fall, they can become flammable due to their high surface area to volume ratio.