Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
Young sassafras leaves are reddish-pink and turn green as they grow. (dogtooth77/Flickr)
Sassafras fruits are located on top of bright red, cup-like stalks. (dogtooth77/Flickr)
Sassafras leaves change to yellow, orange or red in autumn. (BlueRidgeKitties, Flickr)
Sassafras have fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers that bloom in April-June. (Lisa Brown/Flickr)
Sassafras bark is reddish-brown and deeply ridged. (ZeNeeceC/Flickr)
The sassafras is a medium-sized, deciduous tree with bright green, mitten-like leaves. It grows in moist, open woods throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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
Quick Facts
Species
Native
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Size
Can grow to 50 feet tall -
Habitat
Grows in moist, open woods, often colonizing roadsides and abandoned fields.
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Range
Throughout the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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Status
Stable