Plant ID Pages

Plant ID Pages

Plant ID Pages

Hummingbird moth with bee balm blossom
Hummingbird moth with bee balm blossom

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)


Root beer, gumbo, and the smell of Southern woods.

What It Is


Sassafras is a small tree with big character — from its mitten-shaped leaves to its fragrant roots. Found in fields, woods, and forest edges, it’s one of North America’s most recognizable and storied plants, woven into folk medicine, culinary tradition, and regional identity.


Root beer, gumbo, and the smell of Southern woods.

What It Is


Sassafras is a small tree with big character — from its mitten-shaped leaves to its fragrant roots. Found in fields, woods, and forest edges, it’s one of North America’s most recognizable and storied plants, woven into folk medicine, culinary tradition, and regional identity.

Use It Like This

Leaves

  • Dry and grind into filé powder to thicken gumbo.

  • Use as a fragrant seasoning in stews or root vegetable dishes.


Roots

  • Brew into traditional sassafras tea.

  • Infuse into homemade root beer or syrups.

  • Blend with sarsaparilla or wintergreen for layered flavor.


Tip: Sassafras contains safrole, a compound regulated in commercial food production. Occasional home uses like tea or gumbo are generally considered safe, but moderation matters.

Harvest Notes

  • Identify by the mitten-shaped leaves and the distinct aroma when twigs are scratched.

  • Dig roots in fall or early spring from young trees.

  • Dry roots thoroughly before using.

  • Harvest ethically- avoid over digging from small stands.


Cultural Snapshot


Sassafras is a cornerstone of American folk food, deeply tied to Indigenous, African, and Southern traditions. From gumbo to root beer, it carries stories of place, spice, and community.

Students identifying and sorting edible wild plants as part of a foraging certification course.
Students identifying and sorting edible wild plants as part of a foraging certification course.
Students identifying and sorting edible wild plants as part of a foraging certification course.
Fresh wild greens and berries in a wooden bowl, representing the hands-on results of Foraging Academy’s certification classes.
Fresh wild greens and berries in a wooden bowl, representing the hands-on results of Foraging Academy’s certification classes.
Fresh wild greens and berries in a wooden bowl, representing the hands-on results of Foraging Academy’s certification classes.
Group of students processing acorns together during a foraging class, representing shared learning and scholarship.
Group of students processing acorns together during a foraging class, representing shared learning and scholarship.
Group of students processing acorns together during a foraging class, representing shared learning and scholarship.