Thursday, August 20, 2015

Oh, Sassafras?






I found this tree sapling growing in one of my foundation plantings right alongside the corner of my house.

What do you think -- Could this be a sassafras (Sassafras albidum) seedling?

If so, do you think there's any chance that I could transplant it successfully elsewhere in the yard? I understand it gets to be a pretty big tree in time, so I don't want it growing right next to my foundation, but I don't know if it withstands transplantation or if it's not even worth the effort to try.

Or am I misidentifying this seedling completely?


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Laura Bigbee-Fott's avatar

Laura Bigbee-Fott · 501 weeks ago

It's definitely sassafras. We have several on our property and they come up like crazy all through the yard. I would go ahead and try to transplant it. What can you lose? If it makes it, great! If it doesn't, you haven't lost anything but the time it took you to move it. And yes, they get big and grow quite quickly. Good luck!
1 reply · active 500 weeks ago
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Aaron Dalton's avatar - Go to profile

Aaron Dalton 90p · 500 weeks ago

Thanks for the encouragement, Laura.

I may give transplanting a try this fall! :)
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Beth @ PlantPostings · 501 weeks ago

I don't know much about Sassafras, but I say go for it, too! Have you ever thought about starting it in a pot until you figure out where you'd like to put it? I found a Buckeye seedling earlier in the summer, and I potted it up since I'm not sure where I want it yet. Good luck!
1 reply · active 500 weeks ago
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Aaron Dalton's avatar - Go to profile

Aaron Dalton 90p · 500 weeks ago

Hm, potting it up is an interesting idea.

I haven't had much luck with container gardening in the past, but perhaps I should try it again... at least while I continue to figure out this plant's true identity...
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Dea's avatar

Dea · 501 weeks ago

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sassafras%20a...
I thought they tended to have dark, shiny leaves and lobed leaves are more common - you have dull leaves and no lobes at all.
I don't think it is a sass. But you could ask here: https://ask.extension.org/ask
1 reply · active 500 weeks ago
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Aaron Dalton's avatar - Go to profile

Aaron Dalton 90p · 500 weeks ago

Hi Dea,

Thanks for your comment.

The lack of lobed leaves does make me question whether this is truly a sassafras. In her comment below, Laurrie notes that it could be a spicebush (Lindera benzoin) seedling.

Time will tell...
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laurries 26p · 501 weeks ago

Not sure it's a sassafras. Leaves look like spicebush (Lindera). Sassafras shows the lobed mitten shapes at a very early age, and I don't see them -- the mitten shapes in the photo appear to be oval leaves overlapping each other! But if it is a young sassafras sapling, it will transplant at this early stage. I have planted and moved many small sassafras and they grow well. However, be careful of a mature sassafras in the yard. Mine are all out in a wild meadow. As a yard tree sassafras can be striking (you have to keep it from suckering early on, though, in order to get a tree and not a thicket.) The problem occurs if the mature tree is ever taken down or injured. That prompts it to aggressively sucker and you will have sassafras everywhere and not be abel to gain control! However, I think your little seedling is something else.
1 reply · active 500 weeks ago
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Aaron Dalton's avatar - Go to profile

Aaron Dalton 90p · 500 weeks ago

Thanks for the suggestion, Laurrie.

The photos I've seen online of spicebush (Lindera benzoin) seedlings do look somewhat similar - https://www.google.com/search?q=spicebush+seedlin...

The suckering issue is something I've heard about with sassafras. Hopefully this is actually a spicebush! :) I've heard they also make great shrubs. Although I also understand they like more woodland settings and I don't have much (any) woodland space to give it...

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