Top 12 Fire-Prone Non-Native Plants to Southern california

 The high oil content in the bark and leaves makes this tree burn explosively. Long strips of bark can carry embers far from the central fire. 

Another Australian import, one of the most notorious for fire danger. These trees burn hot, drop dry debris, and ignite easily. 

Iconic in the Los Angeles skyline, but dead fronds act like torches, spreading fire through wind-driven embers. 

Similar to the fan palm, with heavy fronds that ignite quickly and carry embers long distances. 

Often used for shade in parking lots, but produces dense leaf litter and has shallow roots that stress in drought, leaving dry fuel. 

 An invasive grass along riverbeds that grows rapidly and burns with explosive intensity. It often re-sprouts quickly after fire. 

Found in riparian areas, this invasive shrub/tree dries out soils and provides highly flammable fine fuels. 

 A weedy shrub that grows quickly in disturbed areas. Its dry stalks are highly flammable in summer and fall. 

Dries into rolling balls of fuel that blow across landscapes, spreading flames and igniting new areas. 

 Tall, dense ornamental grass with sharp leaves. It dries out quickly and becomes a significant, flashy fuel source in fire conditions. 

 An ornamental grass is often planted in landscaping, but it is highly invasive. It grows in dense clumps that dry out and ignite easily. Once established, it spreads rapidly and becomes a flashy fuel source, carrying fire quickly across landscapes. 

This fast-growing invasive tree produces abundant seedlings and can take over disturbed areas. Its wood is brittle and highly flammable, adding both fine fuels (leaves) and heavier fuels (branches) to the fire load.