Sassafras albidum

sassafras

Lauraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

30-60 ft tall by 25-40 ft wide, forms clones.

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

blue,black

Phenology:

Deciduous. Inconspicuous blooms in mid-spring. Leaves turn red to yellow in fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance, Fall Color, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

A relatively small tree that often forms thickets. Best used in informal settings.

Considerations:

Like other members of this family, sassafras trees are threatened by the spread of the redbay ambrosia beetle and the laural wilt fungus it carries. Mildly toxic, especially the bark.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---- to ---- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds

Larval food for spicebush butterfly( Papilio troilus ), tiger swallow-tail( papilio glaucus ), palamedes butterfly ( Papilio palamedes ).





Flowers attract pollinators.

Birds consume fruit.

Native Habitats:

Dry sites. Dry mesic forests.