![]() ![]() (15 – 20 m) tall and has a pyramidal crown up to 40 ft. The medium-sized deciduous tree also goes by the names white sassafras, red sassafras, or silky sassafras. Sassafras albidum is the most common species of sassafras tree in North America. Safrole can harm people and pets if consumed in large enough amounts. However, a 1997 study reported that herbal products derived from sassafras don’t contain any detectable amounts of safrole. Studies found that safrole (which is a component found in sassafras oil) is linked to cancer, as well as kidney and liver problems. Since the 1960s, sassafras root oil is no longer used in the product of traditional root beer due to its potential carcinogenic properties. Crushed sassafras leaves are used to thicken gumbo and give Louisiana Creole cuisine its distinctive taste. Sassafras was the main ingredient of root beer and gave it its characteristic flavor. Sassafras has many culinary uses and was commonly used in North American traditional medicine. You will often find sassafras trees growing near flowering dogwoods ( Cornus florida), eastern red cedars ( Juniperus virginiana), beech ( Fagus grandifolia), and sugar maple trees ( Acer saccharum). The deciduous native trees are common throughout the central and eastern United States. Sassafras trees grow in open woodlands where there is moist, well-drained loamy soil. If you notice differently shaped leaves on a tree, it is probably identified as a sassafras tree. You can also identify sassafras trees by crushing the leaves or cutting the bark to see if it exudes a strong lemony aroma. The easily recognizable tree feature is the mitten-shaped or three-lobed green-yellowish leaves. Sassafras tree identification is by its characteristic aromatic leaves, yellow star-shaped flowers, and reddish-gray bark. Unless the suckers are removed, and dense thicket will form a sassafras shrub. Four years after germination, a sassafras tree measures around 15 ft. The ideal conditions for sassafras tree seeds to sprout are rich, loamy soil that is moist.Īfter seeds sprout in full sun, the tree grows rapidly and can grow 4 ft. Sassafras seeds typically germinate the following spring after being planted in soil or landing on the ground. Sassafras SeedsĮach blue sassafras drupe contains a single seed surrounded by pulpy flesh. ![]() However, the tasty fruits are popular with deer, small mammals, and birds who are attracted to the tree for food. Sassafras fruit lasts on the tree during the summer. After flowering in spring, clusters of flowers give way to blackish-blue drupes contained in red cup-like receptacles. Sassafras trees produce clusters of dark blue edible drupes, each containing a single seed. Sassafras Tree FactsĪ close up picture of Sassafras green immature fruit. Pictures and descriptions of sassafras leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit will help you recognize these attractive ornamental medium-sized trees. This article is a guide on how to identify species of native sassafras trees. The sassafras leaves can be oval or lobed, with lobes numbering between two and five. The highly aromatic leaves give off a citrusy aroma and have distinct patterns. Species of sassafras trees are relatively easy to identify in landscapes. Sassafras trees are relatively fast-growing trees, and the common Sassafras albidum matures at 30 to 60 ft. In the spring, the blossoms smell of root beer. In fall, when the foliage turns spectacular orange, scarlet, yellow, and purple colors, the leaves give off a strong fragrance. Sassafras trees are also highly aromatic trees. Sassafras is a group of deciduous trees with unusually lobed leaves, clusters of golden-yellow flowers, and dark blue berry-like drupes. Share on Email Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn ![]()
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