Sassafras

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

Full sun to light shade, medium to moderately dry moisture, prefers rich loamy soil but tolerates sandy loam, sandy, and clay soils; can develop root rot in wet clay; acidic pH 4.5–6.5.

30–60 feet tall by 25–40 feet spread; inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers in small drooping clusters in early spring before leaves; blue-black fruits 12 mm on bright scarlet stems in September; three distinct leaf shapes (oval, mitten, and three-lobed) occurring on the same tree. Growth rate moderately fast. May sucker from roots to form thickets.

Native region: Statewide in Tennessee in second-growth woods, old fields, and woodland edges; a common colonizer of disturbed ground throughout Maury County and the Highland Rim.

S. albidum is one of Middle Tennessee's most distinctive native trees — immediately identifiable in fall by the combination of orange, purple, and scarlet foliage and the aromatic, spicy scent of the crushed leaves, bark, and roots. The orange-brown, alligator-textured bark on mature trunks is a reliable winter identification feature. All parts are aromatic; root bark was the original flavoring for root beer until safrole was identified as a potential carcinogen and removed from commercial use. Dioecious — both male and female trees required for fruit production, though only some female trees fruit reliably. Root suckers can become problematic in lawn edges; mow or cut back regularly to contain spread. No significant pest or disease problems under typical Middle Tennessee conditions.