Is Common Sassafras deer resistant?
Sassafras albidum
Plant typeTreeHardinessZones 4–9LightFull sun
Mature height360–720 in
BloomSpringMaintenanceModerate
Native range34 US states
About Common Sassafras
Leaves come in three shapes on the same tree, including a distinctive mitten, and turn brilliant orange in autumn. It suckers into thickets, which is fine at a woodland edge and a nuisance in a lawn.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6.5
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 177 to 236 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Similar to Common Sassafras
Other trees with the same deer rating.
- Allegheny ServiceberryAmelanchier laevisZones 4–8Seldom damaged
- American PlumPrunus americanaZones 3–9Seldom damaged
- Austrian PinePinus nigraZones 4–7Seldom damaged
- Chinese Fringe TreeChionanthus retususZones 5–9Seldom damaged
- Chinese Paper BirchBetula albosinensisZones 5–7Seldom damaged
- ChokecherryPrunus virginianaZones 2–6Seldom damaged
Where Common Sassafras grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesota
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraska
- Iowanative
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 34 US states in total.
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Every list Common Sassafras belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Common Sassafras
- Is Common Sassafras deer resistant?
- Common Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Common Sassafras grow in?
- Common Sassafras is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Common Sassafras grow in shade?
- No. Common Sassafras wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Common Sassafras get?
- Mature height is roughly 360–720 in. Growth rate is moderate.