Common Name: Sassafras

General Information

Sassafras albidum is a deciduous tree; it can grow up to 35 metres tall[], but is usually much smaller in cultivation[]. The tree has a shrubby appearance when young, but eventually develops a dense, pyramidal crown. Spreading by means of suckers, the plant can form a thicket of growth[].
The plant is harvested from the wild, and also occasionally cultivated, for use as a food, medicine and source of materials, especially its essential oil which is used in medicine, perfumery, soap making etc. The plant is also sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

The extracted essential oil (as is the case with most essential oils in common use) is poisonous in large quantities[, ].
The essential oil contains up to 80% safrole which is considered to be carcinogenic and potentially harmful to the liver[]. It is also suspected of causing contact dermatitis and of being hallucinogenic, especially in large doses[].
The essential oil has been banned as a food flavouring in America, even though the potential toxicity is lower than that of alcohol[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Michigan to southern Maine, south to Texasm Georgia and northern Florida

Habitat

Deciduous woodlands and thickets on rich sandy well-drained soils[, , , ]. Forests, woodlands, fencerows, old fields (sometimes aggressively colonial), and disturbed areas; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Sassafras albidum is very cold-hardy when dormant, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c, The young plant, however, and also the young shoots of older trees, are much more cold sensitive and can be badly damaged by late spring frosts[, ]. The plant is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall varies from 760 - 1,400mm, with the majority of it falling during the growing seson. At the northern limits of the range, the average annual snowfall is between 760 - 1,020mm, while in the southern limits there may be only 25mm or less. The average frost-free period is from 160 - 300 days. In January average temperatures are -7°c in the north and 13°c in the south; the average July temperatures vary from 21 - 27°c[].
Grows best in a deep, fertile, moist but well-drained, lime-free to near neutral soil in full sun or light shade[, , ]. Tolerant of dry, sandy soils[]. Does well in a woodland garden[], especially in a sheltered position along the edge[]. The plant grows best in a pH range of 6 - 7, but can tolerate very acid, sandy soils[, , ].
A very ornamental plant[] with a wide range of uses, it is occasionally cultivated and often gathered from the wild[]. All parts of the tree contain essential oils and give off a pleasant spicy aroma when crushed[]. The stem bark is highly aromatic, more so than the wood. The root stem bark is the most pleasant of all[]. The flowers have a spicy perfume[].
A large taproot makes transplanting established trees very difficult[]..
If root suckers are not removed, the tree will spread and begin to take on the appearance of a large multi-stemmed shrub[, ].
Trees are long-lived, moderately fast-growing and disease-free in the wild[, ]. They can begin flowering when only 10 years old and good seed crops are usually produced every 2 - 3 years[].
The plant is fairly tolerant of fires. Top growth can survive less severe fires but, even if killed off in more severe fires, the roots usually survive and sprout very freely[].
Although some flowers appear to be hermaphrodite, they are functionally either male or female and most trees are dioecious[]. Both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Winter buds and young leaves - raw[, ].
Leaves - raw or cooked. The young leaves can be added to salads whilst both old and young leaves can be used as a flavouring and as a thickening agent in soups etc[, , , , , , ]. They have a mild aromatic flavour[]. The leaves are often dried and ground into powder for later use[, , ]. Known as file, it is a traditional flavouring and thickening agent in foods such as gumbo[].
The young shoots have been used to make a kind of beer[].

The dried root bark can be boiled with sugar and water until it forms a thick paste[]. Known as filé, it is used as a condiment and thickening agent in gumbo[, ].
The root and the berries can also be used as flavourings[, ].

Sassafras root was one of the ingredients of the traditional drink 'root beer'. This use has now been banned on a commercial basis because of health concerns[]. See above nots on toxicity..

A tea is made from the root bark, it is considered to be a tonic[, , , ]. The tea can also be made by brewing the root in maple syrup, this can be concentrated into a jelly[]. A spicy jelly can be made from strong tea with lemon juice, sugar and pectin[]
A tea can also be made from the leaves and the roots. It is best in spring.
A tea can be made from the flowers[].

Medicinal

Sassafras has a long history of herbal use. It was widely employed by many native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a wide range of complaints, valuing it especially for its tonic effect upon the body[]. It is still commonly used in herbalism and as a domestic remedy.

The root bark and root pith are alterative, anodyne, antiseptic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant and vasodilator[, , , ]. A tea made from the root bark is particularly renowned as a spring tonic and blood purifier as well as a household cure for a wide range of ailments such as gastrointestinal complaints, colds, fevers, kidney ailments, rheumatism and skin eruptions[, , ].

The mucilaginous pith from the twigs has been used as a poultice or wash for burns, eye ailments etc., and is also taken internally as a tea to treat chest, liver and kidney complaints[, ].

An essential oil from the root bark is used as an antiseptic in dentistry and also as an anodyne[]. The oil contains safrole, which is said to have carcinogenic activity and has been banned from use in American foods - though it is less likely to cause cancer than alcohol[]. In large doses the oil is poisonous, causing dilated pupils, vomiting, stupor, collapse and kidney and liver damage[, ].
The oil has been applied externally to control lice and treat insect bites, though it can cause skin irritation[].

The leaves are made into a poultice that can be rubbed onto bee stings, wounds, cuts, sprained ankles, bruises etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Sassafras is used for restoring depleted soils in old fields[].
Sassafras is a frequent pioneer in old fields, and is a member of seral stands in the Southeast []. In old-field succession in Tennessee, sassafras was a dominant member of a 15-year-old stand, and was not present in a 48-year-old stand[]
Sassafras occurs on sites that have been largely denuded of other vegetation by the combination of frequent fire and toxic emissions from zinc smelters. Sassafras persistence on these sites is attributed to root sprouting; seedling reproduction is severely curtailed by the high level of toxins in the soil[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the bark of the root[] and also from the fruits[]. One hundred kilos of root chips yield one litre of essential oil under steam pressure - this oil comprises about 90% safrol[]. The oil is medicinal and is also used in soaps, the coarser kinds of perfumery, toothpastes, soft drinks etc[, , , ]. It is also used as an antiseptic in dentistry[].

The twigs have been used as chewing sticks - used after meals to clean the teeth, remove plaque and strengthen the gums[]. The antiseptic action of the essential oil in the wood also helps to maintain oral health.

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood and the bark[, ]. It is brown to orange[].

The plant repels mosquitoes and other insects[, ].

The wood is light in weight, coarse-grained, soft, weak, fragrant, brittle. very durable in the soil. It weighs 31lb per cubic foot. The wood has limited commercial value, but it is used for purposes requiring durability and lightness such as cooperage, buckets, fenceposts, rails, cabinets, interior finish, and furniture[, , , , ].
Because of its durability, the wood was used for making dugout canoes[].
The wood is a reasonable fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame[]. Stored seed requires 4 months cold stratification at 4°c[]. It is best sown as early in the year as possible. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as possible and grow them on in the greenhouse. One report says to harden off the plants as soon as possible[], but young plants are frost-tender[] and so we recommend growing them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and then planting them out in early summer. Give the young trees some protection for at least their first winter outdoors[].
Root cuttings, taken from suckers, 1 - 2cm long taken in December. Plant horizontally in pots in a greenhouse[].
Suckers in late winter. Plant straight out into their permanent positions[].