As wildfire risks grow across New Zealand, property owners, landscape architects and developers are shifting toward FireSmart design principles. Creating a defensible space around a dwelling no longer means replacing greenery with concrete - it’s about choosing the right plants.
Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) maintains a detailed guide on plant flammability, highlighting species that retain high leaf moisture, store less dead material and contain fewer volatile oils. Incorporating these plants into your landscaping helps create a natural buffer that slows fire spread without sacrificing aesthetic appeal or ecological value.
Here is a guide to key low and low-to-moderate flammability species for your planting design.
Low Flammability Choices (First Line of Defense)
These species offer the highest level of fire resistance. They are ideal for planting closer to dwellings, structure perimeters and boundary edges within defensible zones.
Trees
Griselinia littoralis (kāpuka / broadleaf): A popular hedging and specimen tree. Its thick, fleshy leaves store significant moisture, making it exceptionally fire-resistant and ideal for windbreaks near structures.
Pennantia corymbosa (kaikōmako): A hardy, attractive native tree that stays relatively green and dense, retaining high foliage moisture content.
Shrubs
Hebe topiaria: A compact, rounded shrub excellent for structured gardens. It maintains dense, healthy foliage with low deadwood accumulation.
Grasses
Carex geminata (Cutty Grass): Unlike many dry, fine-leaved tussocks that catch fire easily, this wet-tolerant native sedge stays lush and green, acting as an effective ground-level moisture barrier.
Low to Moderate Flammability Choices
These species provide excellent diversity, colour and habitat while maintaining a significantly lower fire risk than high-flammability plants like gorse, kanuka or dry conifers. They work well as secondary layers or integrated into mid-tier garden zones.
Trees
Aristotelia serrata (makomako / wineberry): Fast-growing with soft, broad leaves, this native tree naturally suppresses fire spread due to its high leaf moisture content.
Plagianthus regius (lowland ribbonwood) & Plagianthus divaricatus (saltmarsh ribbonwood): Excellent native choices that handle tough conditions while maintaining manageable fuel loads.
Hoheria angustifolia (narrow-leaved lacebark): Offers soft, pale green foliage and profuse white summer blooms, providing beauty alongside moderate fire resilience.
Fuscospora fusca (red beech): Provides a strong structural framework in larger landscape settings while burning far less readily than softwood species.
Shrubs
Choisya ternata (Mexican orange blossom): A non-native favourite with glossy leaves and fragrant flowers that serves as an attractive, low-risk hedging alternative.
Photinia 'Red Robin': Excellent for vibrant boundary hedging, offering striking red foliage with far lower flammability than other hedges.
Coprosma rigida & Coprosma rotundifolia: Tough, adaptable native shrubs that add texture to plantings without building up excessive dry interior foliage.
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary): An evergreen garden favourite that functions well in low-maintenance, drought-tolerant borders. (Tip: Keep trimmed to avoid woody interior buildup).
Landscape Design Tips for Fire Resilience
Zone Your Planting: Place the lowest flammability species (like Griselinia littoralis and Hebe topiaria) within 5 to 10 metres of the building.
Break Up Fuel Continuity: Avoid continuous lines of vegetation leading directly to structures. Intersperse plantings with non-combustible pathways, gravel paths or lawns.
Maintain & Prune: Regularly clear dead leaves, twigs and undergrowth. Even low-flammability plants can burn if surrounded by dry debris.
Hydration Matters: Keep plants well-irrigated during peak summer drought to maintain their natural leaf moisture content.
