Sassafras albidum
Photo by Shirley Denton. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Sassafras
Lauraceae
Plant Specifics
| Size: | 30-60 ft tall by 25-40 ft wide, forms clones. | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Yellow,NA | |
| Fruit Color: | Blue,black | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous. Inconspicuous blooms in mid-spring. Leaves turn red to yellow in fall. | |
| Habitats: | Dry sites. Dry mesic forests. |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | A relatively small tree that often forms thickets. Best used in informal settings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| Moisture Tolerance: | Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Clay, Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
Birds consume fruit.
Larval food for spicebush butterfly(Papilio troilus), tiger swallow-tail(papilio glaucus), palamedes butterfly (Papilio palamedes).
Flowers attract pollinators.