Re: [gardeners] Sassafras

Allen and Judy Merten (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 22 Oct 1998 02:11:50 -0500

Hi Linda,
    You can also propagate Sassafras by root cuttings.
Allen
Bastrop Co.,Tx

Linda Baranowski-Smith wrote:

> Hi Everyone,
>
> First my apologies to those of you on both Gardens' and Gardeners' lists
> for getting duplicates of this e-mail.  I need all the help I can get with
> this question.
>
> A friend is interested in sassafrass tree seed and this has become a major
> curiosity with us...to find female trees with berries that mature in
> September/October.  We have a few trees that are apparently male, so we
> went to the metropark just up the street.  With their distinctive color and
> leaf shape, the trees are certainly easy to find.  None of the trees had
> fruit.
>
> The next step was to go to the library for info on female sassafras.  We
> found three good sources, all of which confirmed what we already knew.
> Then we went to the University Arboretum.  Certainly they would know and
> have both male and female trees.  Well, the experts there told us what we
> already knew and we scoured the hundreds of trees at the arboretum to find
> a female.  None of the very lovely trees had berries.  However, this
> scavenger hunt aroused their curiosity also. :o
>
> I now have most of the Biology Department of The U of Toledo and the
> Forestry Department in Toledo looking for female sassafras trees bearing
> seed.  I am stumped and more interested than ever in this question!
>
> Any input or experience out there?  Anyone have female trees?  TIA
>
> Linda in NW Ohio near Toledo/Lake Erie, USDA Zone 5
> llbs@mail.glasscity.net