Sassafras is known for its aromatic bark and roots. In the past these parts were harvested to produce spring tonics. Sassafras is a nice medium sized tree of graceful form if open grown. Often reaching 50 feet in height, it often grows as a multi-stemmed specimen or in clumps.

Sassafras Copse: My little "sassafras copse"  The sapling stems are getting to be a bit large.  I need to remove a few of the bigger ones.

It has a dark brown bark and its leaves come in 3 shapes, often all on the same tree-- a two lobbed mitten shape, a three lobed double mitten and as a single entire ovate shape.  The root beer aroma of its bark, roots and leaves is a dead give away.

In the wild, sassafras is often found along water courses in deep, moist, but well drained soils.  They are often favorite targets for woodpecker dens.  I have seen one specimen that is 28" in diameter and approximately 90 feet tall in the wild.   The wood is aromatic, and is supposed to repel moths, much like red cedar wood.

Sassafras in Bloom: Blooming in early spring in woodlands amid more spectacular neighbors, sassafras is often overlooked.

Its yellow-chartreuse blooms appear in mid-spring.  In my mind they are much under appreciated as is the species as a landscape tree. Sassafras oil from bark and roots is now known to be toxic and the old spring "sassafras tea" tonic is no longer recommended