Appearance

The sassafras has bright green, mitten-like leaves with 2 to 3 lobes. Young leaves are reddish-pink and turn green as they grow. Leaves change to yellow, orange or red in autumn. The bark is reddish-brown and deeply ridged. Young trees have greenish-tinged bark. Fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers bloom in April to June. Sassafras can grow to 50 feet tall.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

In late summer, trees produce small, dark blue, oval-shaped fruits on top of bright red, cup-like stalks. Songbirds and small mammals scatter the seeds. Trees begin producing seeds when they are 10 years old. After that, they fruit once a year or every other year.

Did You Know?

• Native Americans valued sassafras for its medicinal purposes, using parts of the tree to treat fever, diarrhea, measles, coughs, indigestion, nausea and colds.
• Leaves can be used as a spice to add flavor to foods and soups.
• Sassafras heartwood is often used in boat construction because it is light and durable.
• Songbirds and small mammals such as squirrels like to eat sassafras fruits.

Sources and Additional Information

• Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• PLANTS Database: Sassafras albidum – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• VTree ID: Sassafras – Virginia Tech
• Sassafras – U.S. Forest Service