Garden Source

The Sassafras tree, Sassafrax variifolium, also known as the Sassafrac, Saxifrac, Smelling Stick, Aguetree, and Cinnamonwood tree. This widespread Eastern U. S. native is ideal for naturalistic landscaping. Sassafras is a native tree, growing in rich woods from southern Maine to Ontario, Michigan, and Kansas and south to Florida and Texas. The sassafras occurs in the North as a shrub, but in the Southern States it sometimes attains a height of 100 feet. This deciduous tree has leaves that are shaped like a mitten. The yellowish green, fragrant flowers are borne in clusters which appear in early spring. The fruit, which ripens in September, is about the size of a pea. All parts of the tree are aromatic. The bark of the root, which is in reasonably constant demand is collected in spring or autumn. The production of sassafras oil by distillation of the root and root bark is a small industry in the southeastern section of the country. Leaves are a medium green and turn orange, red, or yellow in fall.

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The Paw Paw tree, Asimina triloba, is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with short trunk and rounded top that presents a semi-tropical appearance. PawPaw trees average about 15′ in height at maturity. It prospers in moist soils and when placed at the edge of a wooded area as an understory tree. It is recognized by its sleepy summer foliage and nodding bright purple flowers in the spring. The unusual 3-lobed flowers are followed by a black, edible berry, with a taste similar to banana-pear with a custard consistency. This deciduous trees is growing in popularity largely because of the edible fruit it produces. These highly nutritous oval fruits get 2 to 5 inches long, and turn yellow-orange when ripe. The fruit is an excellent source of vitamins A and C. Two trees are necessary for pollination reasons. Fall color is a brilliant yellow.

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