FireApproved

United States / Grow / Montpelier cistus

Montpelier cistus (Cistus monspelliensis)
Photo: (c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY) (CC BY), via iNaturalist. Species-typical, not necessarily this cultivar.

Montpelier cistus

Cistus monspelliensis (accepted: Cistus monspeliensis) · Cistaceae · all Cistus records · also called Cistus monspeliensis · Wikipedia

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Fire-resistant shrubs instead

Form
shrub
Rated in
Global; Mediterranean France / Provence; Tlemcen, western Algeria
On this lot

1. Fire evidence and conditions

Fire evidence
Highly flammable — location does not change the cited classification.
Fire-performance conditions
1 condition stated in cited fire-evidence rows.
Placement evidence
1 source placement record; source schemes remain separate.
Evidence regions
Global; Mediterranean France / Provence; Tlemcen, western Algeria

2. Why this plant is relevant here

State distribution
Documented in CA.
Introduced / established
1 sourced range or established record. This is not an invasive warning.

3. Legal, ecological, and broader status

How to read this page

The status above is computed from the cited rows below: independent recommendations can support a fire-resistant result, an avoid row can produce keep-away, and disagreement stays visible as conflict. Placement notes preserve each source’s own scheme rather than translating unlike rules into one scale. This is evidence about a plant, not permission to plant it in every part of the defensible space; Zone 0 remains noncombustible.

Conditions in the fire evidence

These describe tested or rated plant material. They are not horticultural maintenance instructions.

Where its sources say to plant it

Placement rules below use each source's own distances or named zones, tied to its rating. They are not interchangeable with the directory's current Zone 0 guidance.

The evidence

Grouped by what each source concluded. Primary evidence rated the plant itself (a lab, field program, or original curation); corroboration compiled or republished another source's rating and resolves to its root lineage.

Avoids (1)

Mid-scale / conditional (1)

Listed without a rating (136)
Corroboration (136 rows from 1 source)

  • FLAMITS: FLAMmability plant traiTS database — Dryad / Global Ecology and Biogeography · Dryad version 9 · original source Corroboration Trait database lineage: meta-aggregator

    136 cited rows from this source; its identity, lineage and tier are stated once.

    • Primary study Essaghi2017: Essaghi, S., Hachmi, M. H., Yessef, M., Dehhaoui, M., & El Amarty, F. (2017). Assessment of Flammability of Moroccan Forest Fuels: New Approach to Estimate the Flammability Index. Forests, 8, 443.

      Shared row context: Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel all; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Essaghi2017-5; sampling january.

      • “flammability value: 7.71”

        FLAMITS record 3308.

      • “flammability value: 14.98”

        FLAMITS record 3321.

    • “calorific value (kcal/kg): 4514.19”

      FLAMITS record 3931; Combustibility measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying yes; device calorimeter; site Gillon1997-1; sampling june to september. Primary study Gillon1997: Gillon, D., Hernando, C., Valette, J.-C., & Joffre, R. (1997). Fast estimation of the calorific values of forest fuels by near infrared-reflectance spectroscopy. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 27, 760-765.

    • Primary study Hachmi2011: Hachmi, M. H., Sesbou, A., Benjelloun, H., El Handouz, N., & Bouanane, F. (2011). A Simple Technique to Estimate the Flammability Index of Moroccan Forest Fuels. Journal of Combustion, 2011, 1-11.

      Shared row context: plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Hachmi2011-1; sampling ND.

      • Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement.

        • “time to flaming (s): 16.7”

          FLAMITS record 4703.

        • “flammability value: 2.69”

          FLAMITS record 4793.

      • “flame height (cm): 7”

        FLAMITS record 4741; Combustibility measurement.

      • “burning duration (s): 11.1”

        FLAMITS record 4742; Sustainability measurement.

    • Primary study Henaoui2013: Henaoui, S. E. -A., Bouazza, M., & Amara, M. (2013). The fire risk of the plant groupings with Cistus in the area of Tlemcen (Western Algeria). European Scientific Journal, 9, 84-103.

      Shared row context: plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying yes; device infrared burner; site Henaoui2013-1; sampling spring.

      • “flame height (cm): 24.22”

        FLAMITS record 4869; Combustibility measurement.

      • “time to flaming (s): 10.81”

        FLAMITS record 4907; Ignitability measurement.

      • “burning duration (s): 111.98”

        FLAMITS record 4945; Sustainability measurement.

    • Primary study Massari1998: Massari, G., & Leopaldi, A. (1998). Leaf flammability in Mediterranean species. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 132, 29-38.

      Shared row context: plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying yes; device epiradiator; site Massari1998-1; sampling ND.

      • Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement.

        • “time to flaming (s): 191”

          FLAMITS record 8956.

        • “time to flaming (s): 198”

          FLAMITS record 8960.

        • “time to flaming (s): 188”

          FLAMITS record 8965.

        • “time to smoke (s): 25”

          FLAMITS record 8990.

        • “time to smoke (s): 27”

          FLAMITS record 8994.

        • “time to smoke (s): 25”

          FLAMITS record 8999.

      • Shared measurement context: Combustibility measurement.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 425”

          FLAMITS record 8973.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 404”

          FLAMITS record 8977.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 399”

          FLAMITS record 8982.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 252”

          FLAMITS record 9007.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 252”

          FLAMITS record 9011.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 252”

          FLAMITS record 9016.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 352”

          FLAMITS record 9040.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 347”

          FLAMITS record 9044.

        • “maximum flame temperature (°C): 341”

          FLAMITS record 9049.

      • Shared measurement context: Sustainability measurement.

        • “smouldering duration (s): 134”

          FLAMITS record 9024.

        • “smouldering duration (s): 135”

          FLAMITS record 9028.

        • “smouldering duration (s): 127”

          FLAMITS record 9033.

    • Primary study Pellizzaro2007a: Pellizzaro, G., Duce, P., Ventura, A., & Zara, P. (2007). Seasonal variations of live moisture content and ignitability in shrubs of the Mediterranean Basin. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 16, 633-641.

      Shared row context: Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Pellizzaro2007a-1; sampling october.

      • “time to flaming (s): 35”

        FLAMITS record 10437.

      • “time to flaming (s): 13”

        FLAMITS record 10438.

    • Primary study Pellizzaro2007b: Pellizzaro, G., Cesaraccio, C., Duce, P., Ventura, A., & Zara, P. (2007b). Relationships between seasonal patterns of live fuel moisture and meteorological drought indices for Mediterranean shrubland species. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 16, 232-241.

      Shared row context: Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Pellizzaro2007b-1.

      • Shared measurement context: sampling october.

        • “time to flaming (s): 23”

          FLAMITS record 10453.

        • “time to flaming (s): 23”

          FLAMITS record 10460.

      • “time to flaming (s): 30”

        FLAMITS record 10454; sampling december.

      • “time to flaming (s): 40”

        FLAMITS record 10455; sampling february.

      • “time to flaming (s): 23”

        FLAMITS record 10456; sampling may.

      • “time to flaming (s): 18”

        FLAMITS record 10457; sampling june.

      • “time to flaming (s): 9”

        FLAMITS record 10458; sampling july.

      • “time to flaming (s): 12”

        FLAMITS record 10459; sampling september.

    • Primary study Saura2010: Saura-Mas, S., Paula, S., Pausas, J. G,. & Lloret, F. (2010). Fuel loading and flammability in the Mediterranean Basin woody species with different post-fire regenerative strategies. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 19, 783.

      Shared row context: plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; sampling august.

      • Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement; site Saura2010-1.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 463.6”

          FLAMITS record 12129.

        • “time to smoke (s): 108.4”

          FLAMITS record 12193.

        • “temperature at smoke (°C): 154.2”

          FLAMITS record 12230.

        • “time to smouldering (s): 292.6”

          FLAMITS record 12266.

        • “temperature at smouldering (°C): 366.9”

          FLAMITS record 12302.

      • Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement; site Saura2010-2.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 584.4”

          FLAMITS record 12147.

        • “time to smoke (s): 92.8”

          FLAMITS record 12215.

        • “temperature at smoke (°C): 147.4”

          FLAMITS record 12252.

        • “time to smouldering (s): 266.6”

          FLAMITS record 12288.

        • “temperature at smouldering (°C): 416.4”

          FLAMITS record 12324.

      • “flaming duration (s): 194.7”

        FLAMITS record 12159; Sustainability measurement; site Saura2010-1.

      • “flaming duration (s): 445”

        FLAMITS record 12181; Sustainability measurement; site Saura2010-2.

    • Primary study Tihay2016: Tihay-Felicelli, V., Santoni, P.-A., Barboni, T., & Leonelli, L. (2016). Autoignition of dead shrub twigs: influence of diameter on ignition. Fire technology, 52, 897-929.

      Shared row context: fuel dead; predrying no; device calorimeter; site Tihay2016-1; sampling ND.

      • Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement; plant part leaves.

        • “time to flaming (s): 5.3”

          FLAMITS record 13035.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 396.6”

          FLAMITS record 13055.

      • Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs.

        • “time to flaming (s): 22”

          FLAMITS record 13036.

        • “time to flaming (s): 32.5”

          FLAMITS record 13037.

        • “time to flaming (s): 35.7”

          FLAMITS record 13038.

        • “time to flaming (s): 46”

          FLAMITS record 13039.

        • “time to flaming (s): 48”

          FLAMITS record 13040.

        • “time to flaming (s): 48.6”

          FLAMITS record 13041.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 417.1”

          FLAMITS record 13056.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 441.6”

          FLAMITS record 13057.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 455.7”

          FLAMITS record 13058.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 470.2”

          FLAMITS record 13059.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 468”

          FLAMITS record 13060.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 463.2”

          FLAMITS record 13061.

      • Shared measurement context: Ignitability measurement; plant part stems.

        • “time to flaming (s): 52”

          FLAMITS record 13042.

        • “time to flaming (s): 50.6”

          FLAMITS record 13043.

        • “time to flaming (s): 49.2”

          FLAMITS record 13044.

        • “time to flaming (s): 47.7”

          FLAMITS record 13045.

        • “time to flaming (s): 48.2”

          FLAMITS record 13046.

        • “time to flaming (s): 45.5”

          FLAMITS record 13047.

        • “time to flaming (s): 51.3”

          FLAMITS record 13048.

        • “time to flaming (s): 50.2”

          FLAMITS record 13049.

        • “time to flaming (s): 54.7”

          FLAMITS record 13050.

        • “time to flaming (s): 55”

          FLAMITS record 13051.

        • “time to flaming (s): 55.1”

          FLAMITS record 13052.

        • “time to flaming (s): 50.7”

          FLAMITS record 13053.

        • “time to flaming (s): 55”

          FLAMITS record 13054.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 473.7”

          FLAMITS record 13062.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 471.4”

          FLAMITS record 13063.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 479.6”

          FLAMITS record 13064.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 469.6”

          FLAMITS record 13065.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 485.4”

          FLAMITS record 13066.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 482.6”

          FLAMITS record 13067.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 484.6”

          FLAMITS record 13068.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 476.8”

          FLAMITS record 13069.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 475.1”

          FLAMITS record 13070.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 474.3”

          FLAMITS record 13071.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 482”

          FLAMITS record 13072.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 483.3”

          FLAMITS record 13073.

        • “temperature at flaming (°C): 475”

          FLAMITS record 13074.

      • Shared measurement context: Sustainability measurement; plant part leaves.

        • “burning duration (s): 102”

          FLAMITS record 13075.

        • “flaming duration (s): 24”

          FLAMITS record 13095.

      • Shared measurement context: Sustainability measurement; plant part twigs.

        • “burning duration (s): 84”

          FLAMITS record 13076.

        • “burning duration (s): 120”

          FLAMITS record 13077.

        • “burning duration (s): 216”

          FLAMITS record 13078.

        • “burning duration (s): 300”

          FLAMITS record 13079.

        • “burning duration (s): 384”

          FLAMITS record 13080.

        • “burning duration (s): 564”

          FLAMITS record 13081.

        • “flaming duration (s): 14.7”

          FLAMITS record 13096.

        • “flaming duration (s): 18.8”

          FLAMITS record 13097.

        • “flaming duration (s): 34.1”

          FLAMITS record 13098.

        • “flaming duration (s): 52.8”

          FLAMITS record 13099.

        • “flaming duration (s): 70.8”

          FLAMITS record 13100.

        • “flaming duration (s): 101.6”

          FLAMITS record 13101.

      • Shared measurement context: Sustainability measurement; plant part stems.

        • “burning duration (s): 726”

          FLAMITS record 13082.

        • “burning duration (s): 708”

          FLAMITS record 13083.

        • “burning duration (s): 828”

          FLAMITS record 13084.

        • “burning duration (s): 1032”

          FLAMITS record 13085.

        • “burning duration (s): 1098”

          FLAMITS record 13086.

        • “burning duration (s): 1338”

          FLAMITS record 13087.

        • “burning duration (s): 1446”

          FLAMITS record 13088.

        • “burning duration (s): 1620”

          FLAMITS record 13089.

        • “burning duration (s): 1812”

          FLAMITS record 13090.

        • “burning duration (s): 2076”

          FLAMITS record 13091.

        • “burning duration (s): 2202”

          FLAMITS record 13092.

        • “burning duration (s): 2316”

          FLAMITS record 13093.

        • “burning duration (s): 2286”

          FLAMITS record 13094.

        • “flaming duration (s): 126.3”

          FLAMITS record 13102.

        • “flaming duration (s): 150”

          FLAMITS record 13103.

        • “flaming duration (s): 159”

          FLAMITS record 13104.

        • “flaming duration (s): 185.2”

          FLAMITS record 13105.

        • “flaming duration (s): 199.4”

          FLAMITS record 13106.

        • “flaming duration (s): 252”

          FLAMITS record 13107.

        • “flaming duration (s): 261.6”

          FLAMITS record 13108.

        • “flaming duration (s): 324”

          FLAMITS record 13109.

        • “flaming duration (s): 383.5”

          FLAMITS record 13110.

        • “flaming duration (s): 369”

          FLAMITS record 13111.

        • “flaming duration (s): 404.3”

          FLAMITS record 13112.

        • “flaming duration (s): 470”

          FLAMITS record 13113.

        • “flaming duration (s): 504.3”

          FLAMITS record 13114.

    • Primary study Valette1990: Valette, J.-C. (1990). Flammabilities of Mediterranean forest species. Effects on the combustibility of the forest communities inflammabilités des espèces forestières méditerranéennes. Conséquences sur la combustibilité des formations forestières. Revue forestière française, 42, 76-92.

      Shared row context: Ignitability measurement; plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Valette1990-1; sampling june to september.

      • “flammability value: 3”

        FLAMITS record 13317.

      • “flammability value: 3”

        FLAMITS record 13318.

    • Primary study Pellizzaro2007c: Pellizaro, G., Cesaraccio, C., Duce, P., Ventura, A., & Zara, P. (2007). Weather seasonality and pattern of thermochemical properties in vegetation living in the mediterranean basin. Seventh Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology. Bar Harbor, Maine,USA.

      Shared row context: Combustibility measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device calorimeter; site Pellizzaro2007c-1; sampling october 2003 and october 2004.

      • “calorific value (kcal/kg): 4708.4182”

        FLAMITS record 16746.

      • “calorific value (kcal/kg): 4708.4182”

        FLAMITS record 16747.

      • “calorific value (kcal/kg): 4445.5116”

        FLAMITS record 16748.

    • “time to flaming (s): 75”

      FLAMITS record 18332; Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying yes; device epiradiator; site Delabraze1974-1; sampling july to september 1974. Primary study Delabraze1974: Delabraze, P., & Valette, J. -C. (1974). Inflammabilitéet combustibilitéde la végétation forestière méditerranéenne. Revue Forestiere Française, 26, 171–177.

Fire-resistant shrubs instead

salvia cistus
Cistus salvaefolius kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi redosier dogwood
Cornus sericea creeping barberry
Berberis repens pomegranate
Punica granatum common snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus

Fire-resistant shrubs listed above

Same genus in the directory · the Cistus group page

Last verified 2026-08-23. JSON (CC BY 4.0)

Profiles: USDA PLANTS · GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Wikipedia · ITIS

Cistus monspelliensis (Cistus monspeliensis). FireApproved. https://fireapproved.com/plants/cistus-monspelliensis/. Last verified 2026-08-23.