Can you suggest any larger growing conifers (ex. Lawson’s cypress) whose root systems are not invasive? The area I’m interested in planting is near water lines.
There are a number of conifers listed on the locally developed web pages of
Great Plant Picks.
I would suggest looking at some of these, and then checking the web page of
SelecTree, where you can select trees for low root damage potential.
For instance, if you are interested in planting a fir tree such as Abies
grandis or Abies pinsapo, you would find out from SelecTree’s full tree
record that both of these have moderate root damage potential. Calocedrus,
Picea orientalis, Sequoiadendron and Cryptomeria are also rated as moderate.
Cephalotaxus fortunei is rated low, as are Pseudotsuga menziesii, and
several Chamaecyparis species. The following conifers rated as having high
root damage potential:
Picea abies NORWAY SPRUCE
Picea brewerana BREWER’S WEEPING SPRUCE
Pinus cembra SWISS STONE PINE
Pinus nigra caramanica CRIMEAN PINE
Pinus taeda LOBLOLLY PINE