Sassafrass is an outstanding ornamental tree year-round. Birds love the berries, which are bluish-black on the end of short, red stems (pedicils). It is a host plant for several butterfly species, including swallowtails.

Historically, it has been used medicinally & in cooking (tea, jelly, root beer).

Sassafras is dioecious, which means male and female plants are separate. The female trees produce the fruit. In the wild, sassafras sends out root suckers and forms shrubby colonies; the suckers are easily controlled in a maintained landscape. It's also somewhat allelopathic and may inhibit certain plants from growing near its roots.

Uses: Medicinal, host plant, fall color, edible, birds, butterflies
Bloom time: April - May

Height: 30 to 50 feet
Space: 10 to 30 feet

Sun: Full sun to light shade
Moisture: Dry to average (prefers well-drained sites)