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    • Photo of Sassafras albidum by Karl Gercens III

    Photo by Karl Gercens III

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

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    Sassafras albidum

    Plant type

    tree

    size

    • H: 20'-80'
    • W: 30'-50'

    planting zones

    • 5a-9b

    More Options

    Sassafras albidum plant details

    Sassafras albidum is a broadleaf deciduous tree with green foliage. In spring green and yellow flowers emerge followed by black and blue fruit. Attracts birds and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular water. Does well in rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and humidity tolerant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Sassafras albidum

    Plant type: tree
    Plant family: lauraceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 30 FT - 50 FT - wide, 20 FT - 80 FT - tall
    Flowers: green and yellow blooms in spring
    Uses: culinary, edible, fall color, fragrant, native plant, pyramidal, root-beer-scented

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Sassafras albidum

    USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
    Watering frequency: regular
    Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and humidity
    Soil needs: rich and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Highly ornamental medium sized tree with spice-scented mitten shaped leaves which turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red and purple; shrubby in youth, becoming tree form with age( to 60'), if the suckers are not removed the tree will continue to have a shrubby appearance and will actually start to form large colonies; greenish flower clusters appear in spring, female trees will bear blueish berries (drupes), the stem pith is used as a thickening agent (filé) in Cajun/Creole cooking, the essential oil of this tree has long been used medicinally, but it is currently banned by the USDA for its carcinogenic substances. Our trees are unsexed. S/M

    By: Forestfarm

    One of America's most beautiful foliage trees. We know this can be a thicket former, but here in the Northwest it's a beautiful tree. Can be planted in dry area and watered for the first couple of years, then allowed to exist without additional water.

    By: Gossler Farms

    Sassafras is aromatic in all its parts. Historically, it has found medicinal uses and was the raw ingredient used to make root beer. It surely found its way into moonshine for some spicy flavoring. Its foliage is distinctive with 4 different shapes: right and left-handed mitten, un-lobed, and tri-lobed. Difficult to propagate reliably, it is nevertheless a trouble-free native American tree once established in the landscape. Often suckers if it is disturbed. Occurring in groves of small trees, along fence rows, and in abandoned fields in its native range; if it grows on its own in the open it can reach a height of 60 ft. with a 2-3 ft. trunk diameter. Needless to say, trees of this size are now rare and merit protection.

    By: Heritage Seedlings

    Make your own gumbo Filet! This beautiful native tree sports excellent fall color even in the south displaying mainly orange, with plenty of yellow and red. Sassafras is a host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail where you can find the caterpillars neatly nestled inside folded leaves. A hardy and drought tolerant medium sized native tree. When we were young we would make Sassafras tea from the boiled roots of this tree, although some studies recommend against this practice due to its carcinogenic properties.

    By: Almost Eden

    Deciduous, shrub or small tree forming colonies over time. Yellow flowers on branch ends in spring. One of the best fall color Used to make root beer. Zone 4-9, 25', Eastern NA, Part shade-sun, moist

    By: Keeping it Green Nursery

    Aromatic leaves may be oval, mitten-shaped or 3 lobed yellow flowers April, orange-red fall color, dioecious

    By: Lael's Moon Garden

    An attractive tree that can reach 80' but rarely tops 20-30' with a rather slender, pyramidal shape and horizontal branches in distinct tiers. This long lived tree starts flowering young and the leaves are variable even on a single plant but remind one of mittens! The blooms open before the leaves in early spring and give way to fleshy dark blue drupes. In Fall, it turns brilliant shade of yellow, orange and red. All parts have an aromatic smell like root beer. Native from SW Maine to Iowa, south to Texas and florida. VERY FAST it can grow 4' a year. Tap rooted so plant it where you want it to stay!

    By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

    Native to North America, Sassafras has a fun variety of leaf shapes with some looking like mittens. Orange & scarlet fall color. Large deciduous tree.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Sassafras albidum plant

    How to Grow Sassafras albidum

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly shade

    • Water Needs

      • regular

    • Soil Needs

      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • humidity tolerant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • yellow
      • green

    • Wildlife

      • birds
      • butterflies
      • deer resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Fruit

      • blue
      • black

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

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