Sassafras albidum (Sassafras)

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).

• Grows up to 30-60 ft. tall (9-18 m) and 25-40 ft. wide (7-12 m).
• Performs best in deep, moist, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, including clay or dry, sandy soils. Drought tolerant. Hard to transplant.
• Perfect as a specimen plant or in groupings, for cottage gardens, or as an informal hedge or screen.
• Generally pest and disease-free.
• No routine pruning necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested, or crossing shoots. Remove suckers unless a thicket is required.
• Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe; take root cuttings in winter.
• Native to eastern North America, from Maine to Ontario and Michigan, south to Florida and Texas.