How To Grow Sassafras

Growing Sassafras: A Gardener’s Guide to This Unique Tree

Sassafras, with its unmistakable mitten-shaped leaves and spicy, citrusy scent, is a tree that feels like it stepped out of the pages of folklore. Growing sassafras isn’t just planting a tree; it’s planting a piece of history. This native beauty, commonly found in Eastern North America, is both hardy and rewarding to grow.

Understanding Sassafras: The Basics

Before you stick a shovel in the dirt, let’s chat about what this tree needs. Sassafras thrives in well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It loves full sun but will tolerate partial shade if it must. Think of areas where wildflowers and meadow grass flourish; that’s the natural vibe sassafras loves.

Here's the kicker: It’s a tree with character. Sassafras can grow up to 60 feet tall, but it’s just as happy staying a smaller, shrubby understory plant. That means you can shape its role in your garden according to your needs.

Where to Start: Seeds, Saplings, or Suckers?

Seeds

Growing sassafras from seed is possible but, let me warn you, it demands patience. Sassafras seeds require a period of cold stratification—essentially a simulation of winter dormancy—before they’ll even think about germinating.

Sassafras seeds can take up to 18 months to sprout, so this is for the gardener who plays the long game.

Saplings

Saplings, on the other hand, are a fast track to a thriving tree. You can often find them at native plant nurseries. Look for healthy young trees with vibrant green leaves and no signs of root rot or pest damage.

Suckers

If you already know someone with a sassafras tree, consider asking for a sucker. Sassafras loves to spread via underground runners, sending up new shoots, or “suckers,” nearby. Digging up one of these and replanting it is one of the easiest ways to propagate sassafras.

Planting Sassafras: What You Need to Know

Here’s the truth: sassafras doesn’t like to be fussed over. Plant it in spring or early fall when the weather is mild. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball, and don’t bother with fancy soil amendments. Native plants like sassafras do better in natural dirt.

Keep the root flare (where the trunk meets the roots) slightly above ground level to prevent rot. Backfill the hole gently, tamp lightly, and water it thoroughly to settle the roots.

Caring for Your Sassafras Tree

Once it’s planted, sassafras is remarkably independent. It’s drought-tolerant once established, but you’ll need to water young trees regularly during their first year. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and discourage weeds, but keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to avoid attracting pests.

If pests like Japanese beetles or diseases like powdery mildew show up, address them quickly. Neem oil works wonders as a natural pest deterrent, and good air circulation usually prevents fungal issues.

Pruning and Maintenance

Sassafras doesn’t demand heavy pruning, but you should monitor it for dead or damaged branches. Prune these in late winter when the tree is dormant. If you’re growing sassafras for its quirky ornamental value, you can also thin out suckers to maintain a cleaner look.

Why Grow Sassafras?

• Wildlife magnet: Birds love the small, blue-black fruits, and caterpillars of species like the spicebush swallowtail butterfly make their homes on its leaves.
• Fragrance: Crush the leaves or scrape the bark, and you’ll release a fragrance that’s equal parts root beer and lemon candy.
• Edible uses: Sassafras leaves are the main ingredient in filé powder, a key seasoning in traditional gumbo. The roots were historically used to make sassafras tea and root beer, though modern safety guidelines advise caution with large quantities.

My Sassafras Story

The first time I planted a sassafras tree, I didn’t expect much. I placed the sapling near my garden bench, imagining it would just be a pleasant bit of greenery. But by the third year, the tree had not only thrived, it became the centerpiece of my entire yard.

Every summer, I’d sit in its shade and watch the spicebush swallowtail caterpillars munch its leaves before transforming into butterflies. In the fall, the foliage turned fiery orange, practically glowing at dusk. It felt less like a tree and more like a friend that stuck around to keep me company.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for something with soul, something that connects past to present, sassafras is your tree. It’s not just a plant; it’s a storyteller.

So, plant one. Grow it. And let it tell its tale, season after season.

Growinng Sassafras can add beauty, flavor and fragrance to your garden. Aromatic Sassafras leaves and bark are used to make teas, sauces and other dishes and the plant's attractive leaves make a lovely backdrop for any garden. Sassafras is also rich in vitamins A, C and B and other minerals beneficial to your health. Growing Sassafras can provide a health boost, with all of its healthful properties, and it can enhance the beauty of your garden like nothing else!