Sassafras, Ague Tree, Sassafras Tree, White Sassafras, Cinnamon Wood, Mitten Tree, Saloop, Smelling Stick, Sassafras officinale, Sassafras variifolium
Noted for its remarkable foliage, Sassafras albidum (Sassafras) is an upright deciduous tree of dense, pyramidal to highly irregular habit with horizontal branches in cloud-like tiers. Mitten-shaped, oval, or three-lobed, the bright green leaves, 4-7 in. long (10-17 cm), turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. Sprays of small yellow flowers appear at the branch tips in spring, before or with the leaves. Sassafras albidum is dioecious with separate male and female trees. The pollinated flowers on female trees give way to small pendant clusters of red-stalked, dark blue berries, which mature in early fall. The greenish twigs and leafstalks have a pleasant, spicy, slightly gummy taste. The dark cinnamon to mahogany-brown bark is deeply ridged and furrowed, providing winter interest. Sassafras albidum spreads by root suckers and can form a small grove. However, it is easily controlled as a single tree. It is a pleasantly aromatic tree great for naturalistic plantings or screens with outstanding fall color.
Sassafras is important to wildlife: Sassafras fruits are eaten by small mammals and many species of birds, including northern bobwhites, eastern kingbirds, great crested flycatchers, phoebes, wild turkeys, catbirds, flickers, pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, thrushes, vireos, and mockingbirds.
Sassafras is also a significant host plant for several butterfly species, notably the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus).
Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
3 - 8 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Lauraceae |
Common names | Sassafras, Sassafras Tree |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
Height |
30' - 60' (9.1m - 18.3m) |
Spread |
25' - 40' (7.6m - 12.2m) |
Maintenance | Average |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries |
Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Clay Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
3 - 8 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Lauraceae |
Common names | Sassafras, Sassafras Tree |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
Height |
30' - 60' (9.1m - 18.3m) |
Spread |
25' - 40' (7.6m - 12.2m) |
Maintenance | Average |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries |
Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Clay Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
How many Sassafras albidum (Sassafras) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Sassafras albidum (Sassafras) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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