Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
$21.95
Out of stock
Spring Shipping Season
All orders placed will be shipped during our Spring shipping season. All trees will be shipped bare root and dormant.
Spring Season shipping schedule:
Plant Zones 9-8: Late January-February
Plant Zones 8-7: February-March
Plant Zones 6-5: April–earlyMay
For more information see the Ordering & Shipping section below.
Sassafras is native to the eastern U.S. All parts of the plant are spicy and aromatic. The roots, bark, and leaves, new shoots, and pith from the branches were used extensively by Native American tribes. The spring flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Leaves are larval food for the Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly. The fruits are readily eaten by wildlife such as quails, wild turkeys, kingbirds, crested flycatchers, mockingbirds, sapsuckers, pileated woodpeckers, yellowthroat warblers, and phoebes when they ripen in the fall. White tail deer browse the twigs and foliage. Sassafras develop a long tap root, so it is best to plant young plants.
| Height | 30' - 60' |
| Spread | 25' - 40' |
| Tree Form | Round, pyramidal |
| USDA Zone | 3 - 8B |
| Blooms | Yellow flowers in Spring |
| Drops Fruit or Nuts | Select |
| Soil | Although adapted to dry, sandy soils, they do best in moist, fertile soils with a low pH. Avoid saturated clay soils, which may cause root rot. |
| Soil pH | 5.0 - 7.0 |
| Light requirements | Partial to Full Shade |
| Spacing | 30 - 40' |
| Pruning | Sassafras often develops a multi-trunk due to growth sprouts from the roots system. Prune suckers early in the life of the tree to form a single trunk specimen. |
| Fertilization | Do not fertilize at planting. Once the trees are established, fertilize in early spring (Mar-April) as growth begins. Do not fertilize in the fall, which could promote late season tender growth that can be damaged by early frosts. |
| Watering | Newly planted trees should be watered regularly. This is the most critical step in the establishment of your new trees. Please see the Watering section under "How to plant and grow" in our Learning Center. |
At Chestnut Hill Outdoors, we’ve been shipping mail order trees for over 30 years. We’re experts at delivering healthy trees to your doorstep. All of our trees are container grown in root-enhancing pots, ensuring healthy root systems and much better success upon planting.
Spring: All trees are shipped bare-root.
Fall: All trees are shipped in containers.
Size shipped: 8 – 24 inches
For more information, visit our Ordering & Shipping Page.
