Summary
Everything that a tree can provide for people and wildlife alike can be found in common sassafras. It presents a wonderful texture in the garden with its large, multi-formed leaves, deeply furrowed, mahogany colored bark and horizontally layered branching pattern. Not only does this tree have a sweet and fruity aroma in its leaves, twigs and flowers, but the brilliant autumnal colors of the leaves create a spectacular show, turning hues of scarlet, orange and yellow. Common sassafras typically reaches 30-40’ tall and does best in sunny areas with well drained soils, but can also tolerate some shade. Plant it with Viburnum acerifolium, Hamamelis virginiana, Vaccinium angustifolium, Carex pensylvanica, Deschampsia flexuosa, and Gaultheria procumbens.
More Details
- Plant Type
tree - Sun/Shade Conditions
filtered-shade, full-sun - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average, dry, moist - Flowering Period
early-spring - Soil PH
adaptable - Flower Color
yellow - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
green, orange, red, yellow - Fruit/Seed Color
blue-black
Additional Information
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Garden Guides.com, Floridata