Sassafras albidum, or sassafras, is a native North American tree belonging to the Laurel family, found throughout Eastern North America. It prefers moist, well-drained, acidic, loamy soils, but can tolerate dry and sandy soils, and even clay as long as it does not have poor drainage. It thrives in full sun to part shade, making it suitable for a variety of garden locations, including naturalized plantings, screens, or as a striking lawn specimen. Considered somewhat aggressive since it spreads through suckers quite readily. Sassafras is a hardy tree, adaptable to USDA Zones 4 to 9. In its native range, sassafras can be found in wood margins, thickets, roadsides, and fields in large colonies. Crushed leaves have a fragrant lemony scent. Sassafras is relatively free of insect and disease problems, although it can suffer from chlorosis in alkaline soils. It is also tolerant of deer, drought, and black walnut trees. Sassafras albidum drops a moderate number of leaves and small seed clusters, with the heaviest shedding in the fall.