Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Sassafras, Ague Tree, Mitten Tree

Family: Lauraceae (Laurel)

Distribution: Central to E. US; E. Canada

Habitat: Open wood on well-drained soil; 0-1500 meters

Hardiness: -20 - 30 F

Life form: Deciduous tree

Bloom Time: April to May

Attracts: Birds, butterflies

Fall color: Orange, red, yellow

Foliage characteristics: Simple, alternate, elliptic leaves can entire or irregularly lobed margins. 4-8" long.

Fruit characteristics: Dark blue, oval drupe with a thick red stalk. .25-.4" long. Ripens in September.

Bark characteristics: Red-brown, deeply furrowed with flat, corky ridges. Twigs are smooth and green.

Average height: 40-50'

Structure: Young: pyramidal Mature: rounded to irregular

Bloom characteristics: Female flowers are born on small, terminal cluster before the leaves. They do not have petals, but they do have 6 yellow-green sepals. Male flowers are inconspicuous.

Dioecious: Yes.

Ethnobotanical uses: Leaves used as a spice or thickening agent. Roots can be used to make a tea. Oil extracted from bark has been used to scent soap and flavor beverages.

Medicinal/pharmaceutical: Some Native Americans used preparations of this plant to ward off fever, treat diarrhea, rheumatism, measles, scarlet fever, as a blood purifier, dietary aid for "overfattness," cough medicine, mouthwash, a gargle for colds, a wash for eyesores, to treat heart trouble, tapeworms, for bee stings, wounds, cuts, sprained ankles, bruises, nosebleeds, burns, lower chest pain, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, itching, loss of appetite, to treat worms, for gallstones, and bladder pain.

Description: A beautiful tree with mitten-shaped leaves, sassafras was once popularly used medicinally and culinarily. Many Native American tribes had a multitude of medicinal uses for sassafras, ranging from a preventative to ward off fever, to a dietary aid for “overfattness.” Culinarily, the leaves have been used like bay leaves, filé for gumbo was made from ground roots or leaves, and oil from the roots was one of the ingredients in root beer. More recently, the US Food and Drug Administration identified a carcinogenic substance in sassafras oil, and many of its previous uses are now banned.
Sassafras is of Special Concern in Maine.