Fire proof plant......

[MoonRocker]

As the forest fires rage in Colorado etc I was reminded of a Sunday suppliment article some time ago maybe over 10 years, can't really remember but in the magazine there was a picture of a house surrounded by a hedge that was left untouched when all around was cinders. The plant was some sort of cactus that stored so much water it offered a barrier to the fire which simply burned all around and left the whole house and garden intact. Anyone else remember this? I've been tryiong to track down the photo. Anyway any idea why these areas have not employed this plant and it's fire proofing abilities?

[Clanad]

Maybe this?: http://www.debraleeba...rewiseLandscaping.htm

[MoonRocker]

that could well be the plant, be good if we could track down the picture!

[heathfield]

A problem arises from airborne burning embers crossing such a hedge, but the idea has some validity...

http://cals.arizona.e...s/summer07/p18-19.pdf

[modeller]

The problem is that for some reason, in California as an example , the huge fires two years ago were made far worse because 80% of the trees were eucalyptus which contain very high levels of resin. As a result they virtually blow up when heated, which destroyed the whole valley by the time the fire was out. The bottom line is the valley was replanted with thousands of trees , all Eucalyptus. Maybe they should have used your cactus.