Sassafras albidum

Description

Sassafras albidum it is a medium size tree with an interesting branching structure: candelabra-like. What’s really cool about it – the leaves come in three different shapes! In the fall (mid September-October) they turn yellow, red-orangey to purple for an amazing display.

It flowers early in the spring (dioecious, small, insignificant but pollinator friendly flowers)  and by fall the ornamental black drupes are displayed on red pedicels with the same candelabra-like ramification (aka. sympodial). All parts of the plant are spicy and aromatic.

A small tree for the wild garden and naturalized areas, in proper locations. In the wild it has the tendency to sprout forming colonies; if desired as a single trunk tree the root shoots (“suckers”) has to be removed, although it also looks nice as a multi-stemmed small tree. The fruits are eaten by all sorts of birds during the fall.

The sassafras oil was widely employed for a while as an additive in foods, medicinal products, cosmetics (root beer, sassafras tea, file powder, as flavouring in candies…). But the safrol, the essential component of sassafras oil was recognized as a potential carcinogen around 1960’s and its use was banned in the U.S.A. and later in Canada.
You can read more about Sassafras here: Stellar alignment and Sassafras.

Germination: the seeds need to be sown fresh right away in the fall (slightly warm followed by cold cycles); or kept moist for later sowing in late fall/early winter.