A more than 100 year old pine did not survive the fire and is being cut down after an arborist looked at it and determined he did not think the tree would make it.
As people start the rebuild process, and yet others delay, the one area of agreement after the Palisades Fire devastated the community was trees.
Even as the purple blossoms of the Jacarada trees line Radcliffe Avenue five months after the fire, other parkway trees burned or were removed by DWP. The Palisades Forestry committee has put together a list of possible trees to plant or to consider to bring back the beautiful canopy that graced the town. President David Card sent over some suggestions. www.palisadesforestry.org
Remember, the Right Tree, Right Place: This list has been compiled based on a combination of sources, including scientific research and input from experienced arboricultural and green industry professionals with extensive knowledge of fire resilience and tree performance in fire-prone environments.
Please note: This list highlights trees with characteristics that may contribute to fire resilience, but it is not a list of universally appropriate species for all settings. Some of these trees may not be suitable as street trees due to factors such as size, root structure, or water needs, but could be appropriate for residential landscapes, parks, or larger open spaces.
Some species are native to California, while others are not. Certain trees may thrive in riparian or water-rich areas but would not be appropriate in drier, urban settings without supplemental irrigation. Others may have large canopies or aggressive roots, making them suitable only for sites with sufficient space.
The fire resilience of a tree is often linked to its moisture content—trees with higher internal moisture tend to be more resistant to ignition and combustion. However, it is important to understand that no tree is fire-proof. Any tree can burn under the right (or wrong) conditions, including California native species.
Most trees need regular maintenance, some more than others. Generally, trees should have deadwood and debris removed by a trained arborist. Where there are dead twigs, branches, hollows, or decay, fire embers are more likely to ignite the tree. Hydration of the tree is also key to its survivability.
This list is intended to be a starting point for further research. Choosing the right tree requires evaluating many factors, including available growing space, local microclimate and Sunset Zone, water availability, and the tree’s proximity to structures, sidewalks, and roadways.
The Right Tree for the Right Space.
Disclaimer: No warranties or guarantees are expressed or implied regarding the fire resistance or performance of the species listed. The Palisades Forestry Committee shall not be held liable for any loss of profit, or for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from the use of this information.
General Resources for researching trees and plants:
Selectree – a great place to start your research on tree species. click here.
SunsetWGB – Sunset Western Garden Book is a good source for information. Out of print since 2012 edition, but available online. See its climate zones: Pacific Palisades is Zones 21-24.
Landscape Plants for Southern California Gardens, 2010, by Bob Perry, Land Design Publishing.
Other sources are listed below.
Legend:
* – Schoolyard Use Trees, according to click here.
E – Evergreen
D – Deciduous
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Theodore Payne Foundation: ‘Wildfire Resistant Plants”. Selection of fire-resistant trees, from a greater list of CA native trees and plants. click here.
Quercus agrifolia / Coast Live Oak*, E
Quercus chrysolepis / Canyon Live Oak*, E
Quercus lobata / Valley Oak*, D
Cercis occidentalis / Western Redbud*, pink flower, D
Heteromeles arbutifolia / Toyon*, red berries, E.
Selectree: click here.
Quercus suber / Cork Oak*, Mediterranean native, cork bark, E.
Selectree: “Trees that Performed Well in the Palisades Fire. Updated February 19, 2025.”
Jacaranda parkway trees on Radcliffe, survived and are starting to bloom with purple flowers.
“These are species (mostly street trees) that were alive (even near structures) in post-fire surveys of trees in neighborhoods within the Palisades Fire area. These are anecdotal observations without statistical analysis or large sample sizes. These are mostly deciduous trees, or trees with a high leaf water content.” (UFEI, Matt Ritter).
This is a sampling from that list.click here.
Ginkgo biloba / Maidenhair Tree*, fall color, D
Jacaranda mimosifolia / Jacaranda*, purple flower, semi-D
Lophostemon confertus / Brisbane Box*, E
Magnolia grandiflora / Southern Magnolia, says medium water use, but SunsetWGB says regular water use, white fragrant flower, E.
Platanus racemosa / Western Sycamore*, CA native, high-water use, D.
Quercus agrifolia / Coast Live Oak*, CA native, E
Syzygium australe / Brush Cherry, tree or hedge, E
Ulmus parvifolia / Chinese Elm*, fall color, partly D.
“Firescaping: Protecting Your Home with a Fire-Resistant Landscape”, 2nd Ed. 2019, by Douglas Kent, Wilderness Press. This is a sampling from this book’s list of large shade trees (some selections are not large), pages 76-77.
Acer macrophyllum / Bigleaf Maple*, CA native, yellow flower, fall color, D, says moderate water,
but Selectree says high.
Ulmus parvifolia / Chinese Elm*, fall color, partly D.
Celtis occidentalis / Common Hackberry*, fall color, D.
Ficus spp. – Selected species:
Ficus macrophylla / Moreton Bay Fig*, E, a giant tree for parks and schools that have the space.
Ficus rubiginosa / Rusty-leaf Fig*, E.
Magnolia spp. – Selected species: all require regular water.
Magnolia grandiflora / Southern Magnolia, E, fragrant white flower.
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’, E, fragrant white flower.
Magnolia x soulangeana / Saucer Magnolia, D, pink or purple or white flower.
Magnolia champaca / Golden Champaca, E, yellow-orange flower.
Michelia doltsopa / Sweet Michelia*, E, fragrant creamy white flower.
Liriodendron tulipifera / Tulip Tree*, D, fall color, yellow flower.
Prosopis spp. – Selected species:
Prosopis glandulosa ‘Maverick / Thornless Honey Mesquite*, D, yellow flowers.
Quercus spp. – Selected species:
Quercus agrifolia / Coast Live Oak*, CA native, E
Quercus chrysolepis / Canyon Live Oak*, CA native, E
Quercus suber / Cork Oak*, Mediterranean native, cork bark, E.
Quercus palustris / Pin Oak*, Eastern US, fall color, D.
Quercus rubra / Red Oak*, NE US, fall color, D.
Quercus rugosa / Netleaf Oak, SW US & Mexico, new growth is red, E.
Quercus tomentella / Island Oak*, Channel Islands native, E.
Quercus virginiana / Southern Live Oak*, Southern US, E.
Juglans spp. – Selected species:
Juglans californica / Southern California Black Walnut, fall color, D.
Even though the gym burned, the tree next to it survived the fire.
CARL MELLINGER, Registered Consulting Arborist, based on his many years of experience assessing trees after fires.
Quercus agrifolia / Coast Live Oak, E, native.
Quercus super / Cork Oak, E
Podocarpus spp. — Selected species:
Podocarpus macrophyllus / Yew Pine, E
Afrocarpus falcatus* (fka Podocarpus gracilior) / African Fern Pine, E
Platanus racemosa / Western Sycamore*, D, native.
Jacaranda mimosifolia / Jacaranda*, partly D, purple flowers.
Fraxinus uhdei / Evergreen Ash (aka Shamel Ash), partly D.
Melaleuca spp. – selected species:
Melaleuca quinquenervia / Paperbark*, E, flowers pink, purple or yellow.
Melaleuca linariifolia / Flaxleaf Paperbark*, E, flowers white.
Ginkgo biloba / Maidenhair Tree*, D, fall color.
Ulmus parvifolia / Chinese Elm*, partly D, fall color.
Ficus species in general but note its root risk to hardscape.
Pines (conifers): E, some can survive, but conifers don’t store water well, so more at risk for fire.
Palm species, E, if they are well maintained, with dead fronds removed.
Eucalyptus species: E, these trees in recent fires have generally survived better than their reputation, and those that burned likely did so due to the flames and heat of the adjacent house fire.
If they are maintained (deadwood and litter removed and hydrated) they are less of a fire risk.
LISA SMITH, Registered Consulting Arborist, based on her many years of experience and expertise.
Quercus / Oak species in general, highlighting a new introduction:
Quercus rugosa / Netleaf Oak, E, new growth is red.
Sequoia sempervirons / Redwood*, E, high water use, but it will burn with enough fire intensity.
Pine (conifer) species: E, some can survive, but conifers don’t store water well, so more at risk for fire.
“Trees in the Fire-Safe Landscape”, article by Dave Egbert, in the “After the Fires” issue of Pacific Horticulture, [date?, search Google for author and article title]. Selected tree species:
Quercus agrifolia / Coast Live Oak, E, native.
Quercus douglasii / Blue Oak*, E, native, better in inland warmer/drier areas.
Chilopsis linearis / Desert Willow*, D, Sunset Zones 21-23 (not 24), flowers lavender, pink, rose, or white.
Cercis occidentalis / Western Redbud*, pink flower, D
Morella (fka Myrica) califórnica / Pacific Wax Myrtle, E, native.
There’s nothing about citrus trees being fire resistant here. I’ve heard that they are also good fire break trees. Can someone please elaborate on that? Thank you!