Sassafras albidum: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the oils in tonics for medical purposes. Leaves and oils have been used in food products. The wood used to make furniture and boats. Oils have been used in soaps and fragrances.
Plant Profile: Sassafras albidum
Taxonomy: Sassafras albidumNames
Sassafras
Phonetic Spelling:SAS-ah-fras AL-bih-dum
Genus:Sassafras
Species:albidum
Family:Lauraceae
Sassafras is a deciduous tree indigenous to the eastern and central regions of the United States, thriving in all parts of North Carolina except for the higher elevations. It typically grows in woodlands, fields, and along roadways, demonstrating adaptability to various acidic soil types. The entire tree emits a pleasant aroma. In early to mid-spring, clusters of small, vibrant yellow-green flowers emerge on 2-inch stalks from separate male and female trees. The female trees yield a blue, fleshy drupe nestled in a red cup attached to a red stalk. During the fall, the foliage transforms into stunning shades of yellow, orange, and red.
Transplanting established sassafras trees can be challenging due to their large taproot. The tree has a tendency to produce suckers, which can lead to the formation of thickets; if a single-trunk specimen is preferred, these suckers must be removed. While it thrives in well-drained, sandy acidic soils, it can adapt to other well-drained soil types. Sassafras grows well in full sun to partial shade and exhibits drought tolerance once it is established.
This tree can serve multiple purposes, such as a shade tree, street tree, or ornamental specimen. Allowing it to spread through suckers can create effective screening.
Sassafras albidum can be maintained at a shrub size by cutting it back to the ground every two to three years.
In terms of pests and diseases, the leaves may exhibit chlorosis, turning yellow while the veins remain green, particularly in alkaline soils. Although the tree can face various insect and disease issues, these are generally not severe. It is particularly vulnerable to laurel wilt and may suffer from root rot if planted in wet, clayey soils.
Sassafras albidum Feature Summary
Sassafras albidum Image Gallery
Tags
#purple
#red
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#fall color
#yellow
#drought tolerant
#specimen
#wildlife plant
#native tree
#moths
#fragrant leaves
#nectar plant
#spring flowers
#fall interest
#flowering tree
#showy fruits
#small mammals
#fast growing
#privacy
#NC native
#nighttime garden
#native garden
#edible fruits
#naturalizes
#acidic soil tolerant
#screening
#pollinator plant
#black fruits
#Braham Arboretum
#larval host plant
#food source summer
#nectar plant spring
#food source herbage
#fall color yellow
#sandy soils tolerant
#clay soils tolerant
#food source soft mast fruit
#fall color red
#fall color orange
#butterfly friendly
#moth larvae
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#Coastal FACU
#fall color purple
#pollinator garden
#black walnut toxicity tolerant
#audubon
#spicebush swallowtail butterfly
#imperial moth
Similar Plants
Sassafras albidum Feature Summary
Attributes
Native Americans used the oils in tonics for medical purposes. Leaves and oils have been used in food products. The wood used to make furniture and boats. Oils have been used in soaps and fragrances.
North Carolina, USA
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 , WV
This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. This plant also supports Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) larvae which have 2 generations per year from April-October. Adult Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies feed on nectar from Japanese honeysuckle, jewelweed, thistles, milkweed, azalea, dogbane, lantana, mimosa, and sweet pepperbush. Fruit eaten by quail, wild turkeys, kingbirds, crested flycatchers, mockingbirds, sapsuckers, pileated woodpeckers, yellowthroat warblers and phoebes, black bears, beaver, rabbits, squirrels, some eat bark and wood, white-tailed deer browse twigs and foliage.
Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
Teas are made from roots
Woody
Seed
Stem Cutting
Root Cutting
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Wildlife Food Source
medium flammability
Fruit
Female trees produce pendant clusters of .4 inch long-inch bluish-black drupes borne in red cup-like receptacles on 1 inch long red stalks. Fruit displays from June to July.
Drupe
Red/Burgundy
Black
Blue
Edible
Summer
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Male and female flowers appear on separate trees. The flowers (1/3 inch across) are borne on 2-inch terminal clusters before the leaves. They have no petals but have six greenish-yellow sepals. Female trees bloom more profusely than male trees. They bloom from March to April.
Gold/Yellow
Green
Raceme
Fragrant
Spring
4-5 petals/rays
Colored Sepals
Cup
Star
< 1 inch
Leaves
The medium green leaves are 4 to 6 inches long and 2 to 4 inches wide and will often have 3 shapes on the tree- oval without lobes, mitten-shaped and three-lobed. The arrangement is alternate and margins are entire to lobed. Fall color is quite showy with reds, oranges and yellows.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Entire
Lobed
3-6 inches
Edible
Fragrant
Showy
1-3 inches
Bark
The bark is attractive red-brown, deeply furrowed with corky ridges. Aromatic.
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Ridges
Furrowed
Stem
Twigs are smooth, round and greenish-yellow or greenish-brown with gray lenticels. Buds are 1/4 inch long and green. Aromatic when broken.
Brown/Copper
Green
Gold/Yellow
Round
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Conspicuous
Poisonous to Humans
Shown to be a weak carcinogen in experimental animals.
Safrole
Bark
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Native Plant
Poisonous
Deciduous
Multi-stemmed
Rounded
Pyramidal
Irregular
Rapid
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Garden for the Blind
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Flowering Tree
Understory Tree
Drought
Deer
Black Walnut
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Poisonous to Humans
Messy
Sassafras albidum Image Gallery
Sassafras albidum Attributes
Sassafras albidum: Country Or Region Of Origin
North Carolina, USA
Sassafras albidum: Distribution
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 , WV
Sassafras albidum: Wildlife Value
This plant supports Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. This plant also supports Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) larvae which have 2 generations per year from April-October. Adult Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies feed on nectar from Japanese honeysuckle, jewelweed, thistles, milkweed, azalea, dogbane, lantana, mimosa, and sweet pepperbush. Fruit eaten by quail, wild turkeys, kingbirds, crested flycatchers, mockingbirds, sapsuckers, pileated woodpeckers, yellowthroat warblers and phoebes, black bears, beaver, rabbits, squirrels, some eat bark and wood, white-tailed deer browse twigs and foliage.
Sassafras albidum: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
Sassafras albidum: Edibility
Teas are made from roots
Sassafras albidum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Sassafras albidum: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Sassafras albidum: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Sassafras albidum: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Sassafras albidum Fruit
Sassafras albidum: Fruit Description
Female trees produce pendant clusters of .4 inch long-inch bluish-black drupes borne in red cup-like receptacles on 1 inch long red stalks. Fruit displays from June to July.
Sassafras albidum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Sassafras albidum: Fruit Color
Black
Blue
Red/Burgundy
Sassafras albidum: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Sassafras albidum: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Sassafras albidum: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Sassafras albidum: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Sassafras albidum Flowers
Sassafras albidum: Flower Description
Male and female flowers appear on separate trees. The flowers (1/3 inch across) are borne on 2-inch terminal clusters before the leaves. They have no petals but have six greenish-yellow sepals. Female trees bloom more profusely than male trees. They bloom from March to April.
Sassafras albidum: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Sassafras albidum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Sassafras albidum: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Sassafras albidum: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Sassafras albidum: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Sassafras albidum: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Sassafras albidum: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Sassafras albidum Leaves
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Description
The medium green leaves are 4 to 6 inches long and 2 to 4 inches wide and will often have 3 shapes on the tree- oval without lobes, mitten-shaped and three-lobed. The arrangement is alternate and margins are entire to lobed. Fall color is quite showy with reds, oranges and yellows.
Sassafras albidum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Color
Green
Sassafras albidum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Sassafras albidum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Sassafras albidum: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Sassafras albidum Bark
Sassafras albidum: Bark Description
The bark is attractive red-brown, deeply furrowed with corky ridges. Aromatic.
Sassafras albidum: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Sassafras albidum: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Sassafras albidum Stem
Sassafras albidum: Stem Description
Twigs are smooth, round and greenish-yellow or greenish-brown with gray lenticels. Buds are 1/4 inch long and green. Aromatic when broken.
Sassafras albidum: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Green
Sassafras albidum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Sassafras albidum: Stem Cross Section
Angular
Oval
Round
Square
Sassafras albidum: Stem Bud Terminal
Cluster of terminal buds
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds
Sassafras albidum: Stem Lenticels
Conspicuous
Not Conspicuous
Sassafras albidum Poisonous to Humans
Sassafras albidum: Poison Symptoms
Shown to be a weak carcinogen in experimental animals.
Sassafras albidum: Poison Toxic Principle
Safrole
Sassafras albidum: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Sassafras albidum: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Sassafras albidum: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Sassafras albidum Whole Plant Traits
Sassafras albidum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Sassafras albidum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Sassafras albidum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Sassafras albidum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Sassafras albidum: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Sassafras albidum: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Sassafras albidum Cultural Conditions
Sassafras albidum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Sassafras albidum: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sassafras albidum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Sassafras albidum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Sassafras albidum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Sassafras albidum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Sassafras albidum Landscape
Sassafras albidum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Sassafras albidum: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Sassafras albidum: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Sassafras albidum: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Sassafras albidum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Sassafras albidum: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
