Sassafras albidum

• BOTANICAL NAME: Sassafras albidum
• PRONUNCIATION: SAS-a-fras AL-bi-dum
• COMMON NAME: Sassafras
• FAMILY: Lauraceae
• NATIVITY: Southern Ontario, eastern U.S. to Midwest.
• GROWTH HABIT: Shrubby, irregular, forming a colonizing thicket, usually taprooted; 30'-60' x 25'-40' branching gives winter interest.
• HARDINESS: Zone 4-8
• CULTURE: Moist, acid, sandy loam in full sun to partial shade. Grows naturally as an understory tree and on the edge of woodlands.
• LANDSCAPE USE: An excellent native plant for good fall color and winter silhouette. A bird-attracting tree. Not often cultivated and difficult to transplant.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple, 3"-7" long, entire or 1-3 lobes, in various shapes; when crushed, produces a spicy fragrance. Bright-green in summer, good yellow, orange to red fall color. Dioecious, flowers yellow, fragrant, 1"-2", before the leaves.
• BUDS: Ovoid, 1/3" long; green, tinged with red.
• BARK: Twigs are bright yellow-green. Bark is dark red-brown, forms corky ridges. Has a spicy fragrance when scraped.
• FRUIT: Dark-blue drupe, ½" long, with red recepticle.
• PROPAGATION: Seed, root cuttings.
• PESTS: Japanese beetles; mostly pest free.
• CULTIVARS: