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At its fall best, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) rivals even sugar maples in the intensity and variation of its fall display. In the shade, the foliage becomes an intense golden yellow, but tin the sun, the outermost leaves become scarlet, orange, and maroon. Sassafras is an opportunistic tree found commonly along fencerows and power line right of ways where it can compete with larger trees. It sprouts readily from stumps and the sprouts grow rapidly, adding up to 3-4 feet in height each year for the first ten years. This grouping was photographed along a roadway where occasional brushmowing keeps the competition in check. It is one of our few dioecious trees (male and female plants are separate, and both are necessary for pollination and fruit set. The yellow-green flower clusters grow from fat terminal buds in the spring of the year and they are a welcome early nectar source for pollinating insects. Blue-black berries ripen on the female trees in autumn, though it is often hard to find any as many colonies are big suckering clones of one either male or female plant. When they do form the berries are devoured by birds. Bright red stalks (pedicels) help get the bird's attention from amongst the leaves. Sassafras root sprouts are difficult to transplant, giving the tree an undeservedly difficult reputation. Seedlings are easily moved and they grow quickly and easily in well-drained soils and at least 4 hours of sun. Root suckers will appear near the main plant, especially if it is damaged or diseased, but these can be cut back or mowed if unwanted. Sassafras can live to be a large tree with a diameter over 12 inches and a height of 60-70 feet. Often, though, individual trunks develop cankers that do them in at a younger age. All in all, it is a lovely small tree that birds, bees, and cecropia caterpillars all love. (next page) |