How to Grow a Sassafras Tree

To start the sassafras tree from seed, plant the seed 1/2 inch deep in cool soil during the fall where it will lie dormant. In the spring, the deep tap root will begin to develop, so fertilize with a root growth stimulator. When the weather is dry, make sure to water your seeds.

Is it legal to grow a sassafras tree?
How long does it take sassafras trees to grow?
Is Sassafras easy to grow?
Where do sassafras trees grow best?
Why is sassafras illegal?
What is a sassafras tree good for?
Can sassafras tea get you high?
Can I transplant a sassafras tree?
Are sassafras tree roots invasive?
Is Sassafras poisonous?

Is it legal to grow a sassafras tree?

The sassafras tree hails from the eastern United States, where it grows naturally in hardwood forests, dry woods and abandoned fields from Maine to Texas. As a landscape tree, you can grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9, in full sun or partial shade.

How long does it take sassafras trees to grow?

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year.

Is Sassafras easy to grow?

Virtues: Sassafras is an easy-going North American tree with pretty spring flowers and large, interesting leaves that turn beautiful colors in the fall. It can be kept as a single small- to medium-size tree or allowed to spread (by suckers) and mature into a shrubby colony. Controlling its spread is easy, however.

Where do sassafras trees grow best?

Soils and Topography

Sassafras can be found on virtually all soil types within its range. It grows best in open woods on moist, well-drained, sandy loam soils, but is a pioneer species on abandoned fields, along fence rows, and on dry ridges and upper slopes, especially following fire.

Why is sassafras illegal?

Well, sassafras and sarsaparilla both contain safrole, a compound recently banned by the FDA due to its carcinogenic effects. Safrole was found to contribute to liver cancer in rats when given in high doses, and thus it and sassafras or sarsaparilla-containing products were banned.

What is a sassafras tree good for?

Sassafras is a plant. The root bark is used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, sassafras is used for urinary tract disorders, swelling in the nose and throat, syphilis, bronchitis, high blood pressure in older people, gout, arthritis, skin problems, and cancer.

Can sassafras tea get you high?

The result of this action is to cause a euphoric, stimulating, and hallucinogenic response in the brain. To describe it differently, sassafras has both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects and increases feelings of pleasure and wellbeing that create the “high” experienced by those who use it.

Can I transplant a sassafras tree?

Sassafras trees may need to be transplanted if they outgrow their current site or reside in unfavorable growing conditions. Sassafras trees do not transplant well, but with proper preparation and by moving the tree in the spring before new leaves appear, the chance of success increases.

Are sassafras tree roots invasive?

Sassafras isn't an invasive species, especially in MD. An invasive species is one not native to your area. Sassafras is a native species. It actually makes a decent lumber, and usually fetches red oak prices.

Is Sassafras poisonous?

It was also used as a tea. But sassafras tea contains a lot of safrole, the chemical in sassafras that makes it poisonous. One cup of tea made with 2.5 grams of sassafras contains about 200 mg of safrole. This is about 4.5 times the dose that researchers think is poisonous.