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Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

Last reviewed: October 2026

Sassafras albidum is a deciduous tree that produces small yellow-green flowers in April and May, growing best in part sun with medium moisture, well-drained soil.

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Photo: Liddlebirb / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Toxicity unknown

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Sassafras as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

180"–240" H × 120"–180" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 29 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

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Sassafras is a medium to large native tree known for its distinctive mitten-shaped leaves and brilliant orange-red fall color. It produces small yellow-green flowers in spring followed by dark blue berries, and can spread by root suckers to form colonies if not managed.

Growing Sassafras

Grow Sassafras in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 180 to 240 inches tall and spread 120 to 180 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

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How to care for Sassafras, by region

How to care for Sassafras where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.

Care guidance last updated: October 2026

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Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens (includes Riverhead, NY)

Year-round

Sassafras is a medium to large tree that likes well-drained, slightly acidic soil and is hard to move once it is established.

  • Grows in sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained sandy, acidic soil but adapts to other soils if they drain well.
  • Listed hardy in USDA zones 4a through 9b, and it needs protection from extreme winter weather.
  • Expect 30 to 60 feet tall and 25 to 40 feet wide, so give it 24 to 60 feet of space.
  • It has a large taproot, which makes moving an established tree difficult, so pick the spot carefully.

Fall

Fall is when sassafras shows off its color and when you can tidy up suckers.

  • Leaves turn yellow, orange, and red.
  • The tree can be kept at shrub size by cutting suckers to the ground every 2 to 3 years.
  • Well-drained soil matters most going into winter, since wet clay invites root rot.

Winter

In winter, the main job is protecting the tree from the harshest weather.

  • The tree needs to be protected from extreme winter weather.
  • It is rated hardy in zones 4a through 9b.
  • Hold off on moving it. A large taproot makes transplanting established trees difficult.

Spring

In spring, check the soil drains well and deal with suckers.

  • Suckers will need to be removed if you want a single trunk.
  • Yellow leaves with green veins can signal chlorosis in alkaline soils.
  • Wet clay soil can lead to root rot, so avoid planting where water sits.

Summer

Once established, sassafras handles dry spells, so summer care is mostly watching for pests.

  • It is drought tolerant once established.
  • Watch for leaf feeders and sucking insects. Swallowtail caterpillars also feed on the leaves, but the damage is generally not serious.
  • Leaf spots and other fungal problems can show up on the foliage.

Sources: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, Sassafras albidum

In an HOA neighborhood

Sassafras takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Spreads aggressively by root suckers
  • Can become quite large for typical residential lots
  • May appear too informal for structured landscapes

Wildlife value

Host plant for tiger swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail, palamedes swallowtail.

The flowers attract bees and butterflies in spring, while the berries feed various bird species. Sassafras serves as a host plant for spicebush swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.

Common questions

When does Sassafras albidum bloom?
Sassafras albidum typically blooms in April and May, producing small yellow-green flower clusters that appear before or as the leaves emerge.
What pollinators visit Sassafras albidum?
Bees and butterflies visit the flowers of Sassafras albidum, and the tree also serves as a larval host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
How much light and water does Sassafras albidum need?
Sassafras albidum grows best in part sun with medium soil moisture, but it tolerates conditions from full sun to part shade and handles drier soils once established.
Does Sassafras albidum keep its leaves year round?
No, Sassafras albidum is deciduous. Its leaves turn shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn before dropping for winter.
How large does Sassafras albidum get?
Sassafras albidum is typically a medium to large tree, often reaching 30 to 60 feet tall at maturity with a rounded to irregular crown.
Is Sassafras toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Sassafras as toxic to livestock.
Is Sassafras HOA-friendly?
Sassafras takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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