sassafras
Sassafras albidum
USDA zones4 to 9
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size30 to 60 feet tall25 to 40 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Yellow , green , brown
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a tree for specimen planting, woodland gardens, and food gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and dry to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Deer tend to pass it by. Its mitten-shaped leaves turn a bright fall color, and female trees bear dark-blue fruits that birds eat. It can sucker into a small grove, so remove extra shoots if you want a single tree.
Pairs well with Sourwood, Tulip tree, Red twig dogwood, and Blue star.
Native range
AL, AR, CT, DC, and 30 more places. See all 34
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, and WV; ON.