Sassafras Look Alikes

If you’re foraging or planting native trees, knowing your sassafras look alikes is essential. Mistaking a similar plant for true sassafras can lead to disappointment or, worse, a harmful encounter. This guide will help you identify sassafras with confidence and point out the key differences in plants that often get confused with it.

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a beloved North American tree known for its aromatic leaves and roots, historically used for tea and flavoring. Its distinctive leaves, which can be oval, mitten-shaped, or three-lobed on the same branch, make it memorable. However, several other plants share similar features, and we’ll clear up the confusion.

Let’s break down the most common plants mistaken for sassafras. We’ll focus on leaf shape, bark, scent, and growth habit to tell them apart.

1. Young Black Gum or Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

This is one of the most frequent sassafras look alikes, especially in the sapling stage. The leaf shapes can appear frustratingly similar at a quick glance.

Leaf Differences: Black gum leaves are always oval or slightly obovate with a smooth margin. They lack the mitten or three-lobed shapes that sassafras is famous for. Black gum leaves also attach to the stem without a petiole (or a very short one), while sassafras leaves have a distinct, often reddish, leaf stalk.
Bark & Growth: Young black gum bark is flaky and blocky, resembling alligator hide, which differs from the deeply furrowed bark of mature sassafras. As they grow, black gum trees develop a very straight trunk with horizontal branches, while sassafras tends to be more irregular and spreading.
The Crush Test: Crush a sassafras leaf and you’ll get a strong, citrusy, root-beer-like scent. A black gum leaf has little to no distinct fragrance.

2. Red Mulberry (Morus rubra)

Red mulberry saplings can produce lobed leaves that trick the untrained eye. The key is to look at the leaf texture and arrangement.

Leaf Texture: Mulberry leaves are notably rough and scratchy on the upper surface, like sandpaper. Sassafras leaves are smooth and glabrous (hairless) on both sides.
Leaf Base & Sap: The leaf base of a red mulberry is usually heart-shaped, even on lobed leaves. Also, if you pluck a leaf, mulberry will exude a milky white sap. Sassafras does not have milky sap.
Overall Form: Mulberry trees often have a more shrubby, spreading form when young compared to the often single-trunked form of a sassafras sapling.

3. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) – A Dangerous Imposter

This is the most critical identification to get right. Young poison ivy vines or shrubby forms can sometimes be mistaken for sassafras seedlings, with disastrous consequences.

The Golden Rule: “Leaves of three, let it be.” Sassafras leaves alternate singly along the branch. Poison ivy always has compound leaves with three leaflets grouped together. This is the absolute most important distinction.
Leaf Shine: Poison ivy leaflets are often shiny, while sassafras leaves are matte. However, don’t rely on shine alone—always check the leaf arrangement first.
No Scent: Crushing poison ivy leaves may give a faint, unpleasant scent, but never the sweet, aromatic scent of sassafras. Do not crush if you suspect poison ivy!

4. White Sassafras (Sassafras albidum var. molle)

This isn’t a true look-alike but a variety of the same species. It can cause confusion because it looks slightly different from the common sassafras.

Key Difference: The underside of the leaves and the young twigs are densely hairy (pubescent), giving them a whitish, soft appearance. Common sassafras is smooth underneath.
Shared Traits: It will have the same variable leaf shapes, aromatic scent, and growth habit. So if you find a “hairy” sassafras, you’ve still correctly identified the species, just a different variety.

Your Step-by-Step Identification Checklist

Follow this simple process when you encounter a potential sassafras tree.

Observe Leaf Arrangement: Look at how the leaves are attached to the branch. Are they single and alternating? If you see groups of three leaflets, it’s poison ivy—step away.
Check for Multiple Leaf Shapes: Scan the branch. Do you see plain oval, mitten-shaped, and three-lobed leaves all on the same tree? This is a strong indicator for sassafras.
Perform the Crush and Sniff Test: Carefully crush part of a leaf. Does it release a strong, pleasant, root beer or citrus scent? If yes, you’re likely handling sassafras. No scent points to black gum or mulberry.
Examine the Leaf Stalk (Petiole): Sassafras petioles are often reddish and relatively long. Black gum leaves sit very close to the stem.
Look at the Bark: On older saplings or trees, sassafras bark becomes thick, reddish-brown, and deeply furrowed. Young black gum has blocky bark, and mulberry bark is more orange-brown and scaly.

Why Accurate Identification Matters

Getting it wrong has real consequences beyond simple mislabeling in your garden journal.

Foraging Safety: Making tea or using roots from a misidentified plant could make you ill. Only true sassafras is safe for culinary use, and even it should be used in moderation due to safrole content.
Garden Planning: Sassafras is a wonderful native tree for wildlife, supporting birds and pollinators. Planting a mulberry or black gum instead might not fit your garden’s ecological or aesthetic goals.
Avoiding Harmful Contact: Confusing a young poison ivy plant for a sassafras seedling could result in a severe, itchy rash that requires medical attention. This risk alone makes careful identification vital.

Tips for Remembering the Differences

Use these mental shortcuts to keep the distinctions clear in your mind.

Sassafras = “Mittens for Roots”: The mitten-shaped leaf is its most famous feature. Think of it needing mittens for its roots (which are used in root beer).
Black Gum = “The Smooth Operator”: Its leaves are always smooth-edged (un-lobed) and lack fragrance. It’s smooth but boring compared to sassafras.
Mulberry = “The Scratchy One”: The rough, sandpapery leaf texture is its giveaway. If it’s scratchy, it’s not sassafras.
Poison Ivy = “Three is a Crowd”: Three leaflets grouped together is a crowd you want to avoid. Sassafras leaves are always solo artists.

FAQ: Sassafras and Its Similar Plants

Q: Are there any other sassafras lookalikes I should know about?
A: In some regions, young sassafras trees might be confused with Populus species (like cottonwood) due to leaf shape, but the lack of aroma and different growth form are quick giveaways. Always use multiple identifiers.

Q: Can I use the leaf scent as the only identification method?
A: No. While a strong root-beer scent is a excellent clue, your sense of smell might be off, or the plant may not be aromatic at certain times. Use scent as a confirming characteristic alongside leaf shape and arrangement.

Q: Is it safe to make sassafras tea from a tree in my yard?
A: If you have positively identified Sassafras albidum, the roots can be used. However, be aware that safrole, a compound in the root bark, is considered a mild carcinogen. Commercial “sassafras tea” is often safrole-free. Consume wild tea sparingly and consult a reliable foraging guide or expert.

Q: How can I tell a sassafras from a sweetgum tree? They both have lobed leaves.
A: Sweetgum leaves are star-shaped (5-7 pointed lobes) and look nothing like sassafras’s oval or mitten shapes upon close inspection. Sweetgum also has spiky seed balls, while sassafras has dark blue berries on red stalks.

Q: Do all sassafras trees have all three leaf shapes?
A: Most do, but not always. Younger trees or shoots might only product the unlobed oval leaves. The presence of even one mitten-shaped leaf on the tree confirms it’s sassafras. The variety of forms is a hallmark of the species.

With this knowledge, you can confidently distinguish a true sassafras from its common imitators. Remember to always check multiple features—leaf shape, arrangement, scent, and bark—before making a final call. This careful approach ensures you can enjoy this unique native tree safely and appreciate it’s role in the landscape. Taking the time to learn these differences makes you a more observant and responsible gardener or forager.