Sassafras

Scientific Name:
Sassafras albidum 

Average height at maturity:
30 to 60 feet 

Average width of canopy at maturity:
25 to 40 feet

Leaves and bark:

  • The sassafras tree’s leaves can either be mitten-shaped, oval, or mitten-shaped with two ‘thumbs’ and have untoothed edges. In summer, the leaves are medium green and in autumn, the leaves are yellow, orange, or red.
  • The sassafras tree has reddish brown to gray-brown bark that is ridged and furrowed.

Other fun and interesting facts:

  • The sassafras is native to North America.
  • The flowers of a sassafras tree are yellow and found in clusters that are 1 to 2 inches long and around a half inch wide.
  • In the autumn, the sassafras produces dark blue fruit that can grow up to half an inch.
  • Historically, the roots and bark of the sassafras tree were used as a spring tonic.
  • The tree can repel mosquitos.
  • Native Americans and early settlers used sassafras roots for medicine to treat fever, diarrhea, measles, coughs, indigestion, nausea and colds.
  • Oil from the sassafras root is used in making soaps, perfume, root beer, and tea.
  • A 20 inch sassafras (like the one in Wood Park) can intercept 2,464 gallons of stormwater runoff in a year.
  • It can also reduce atmospheric carbon by 538 pounds.
  • Look for a sassafras tree near the entrance to the tennis courts in Wood Park.

 

Sources:

https://www.suffieldlandconservancy.org/sassafras
https://wildlifeleadershipacademy.org/sassafras-tree-of-teas-leaves-and-mysteries/
https://www.visitcamdencountync.com/sassafras/
https://www.arborday.org/calculator/returnValues.cfm?climatezone=Northeast
https://www.arborday.org/Trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=917
https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/sassafras/

 

Photo Credit to Ben Leynse
Information compiled as part of Robert Slater’s 2023 Eagle Scout Project