Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

Sassafras (Sasssfras albidum)

Yellow Flowers — USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternative Names

White Sassafras, Ague Tree, Lily-of-the-Valley Tree, Cinnamon Wood, Saloop

Description of Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), a member of the Lauraceae (Laurel Family), is a deciduous tree that grows to 70 feet tall and has green and yellow flowers that bloom in the spring.  Birds like to eat the fruits of this tree.  More information about Sassafras can be found on this blog post.

Hosted Species

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus troilus)

Spicebush Swallowtail on flower — ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Purple Flower — Meganmccarty, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)

Palamedes Swallowtail on Purple Flower — James Leon Young, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)

Pale Swallowtail on Red Flower — ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nectar Species

Many other insects use this species for nectar.

Habitat

This species grows in open woodlands, fields, roadsides, and waste areas.

Range of Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) in the United States and Canada

Interesting Facts

The species name, albidum, is Latin for white.  The tree can often form large clones.