# sassafras (*Sassafras albidum*) The sassafras tree is a special tree with unique leaves that can be shaped like mittens! It has a lovely smell, especially when you crush its leaves or bark. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 97 - **Habitat:** Forests ![sassafras](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sassafras7.jpg&width=800) Photo: Wowbobwow12 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sassafras7.jpg) ## Appearance The sassafras has uniquely shaped leaves, often appearing as mittens, three-lobed 'ghosts,' or unlobed ovals, sometimes all on the same tree! Its bark is deeply furrowed and reddish-brown, while its small, yellow-green flowers bloom in spring before the leaves emerge. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Laurales - **Family:** Lauraceae - **Genus:** Sassafras ## Interesting facts - Before modern plastics, its durable wood was often used to build fence posts and even small boats! - Many birds love to feast on its shiny, dark blue berries, helping the tree spread its seeds! - Scratching a sassafras twig or bark smells like a delicious mix of root beer and citrus! - The sassafras tree is like a chameleon, often growing three different leaf shapes on the same branch! ## Special abilities - **Shape-Shifting Leaves:** Sassafras has leaves that grow in three distinct shapes (oval, mitten, three-lobed) to adapt to different light conditions. - **Fragrant Defender:** The sassafras releases a spicy, citrusy scent from its bark, leaves, and roots to deter hungry browsers. - **Underground Networker:** Sassafras can send up new shoots from its roots, forming a small grove to expand and survive. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 900-3000 cm - **Spread:** 600-1200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly (*Papilio troilus*) — Larvae feed on sassafras leaves - **Eats:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Feeds on the dark blue berries - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits sassafras flowers for nectar - **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Consumes the tree's ripened berries ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat any parts of the sassafras tree without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify sassafras? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is sassafras? 900-3000 cm ### How wide does sassafras spread? 600-1200 cm ### How big are the flowers on sassafras? 0.5-1 cm ### When does sassafras bloom? Spring ### Is sassafras edible? Yes ### Is sassafras toxic? Mild ### What is sassafras's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Brett Woods Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brett-woods-open-space) — Connecticut, US · Park - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District [View all places to see sassafras](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sassafras) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Sassafras: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sassafras)