How Do You Identify Sassafras Trees?

Measure or estimate the height of a mature tree. The average height of a sassafras tree is between 20 and 40 feet, though some are shorter due to twisting of the trunk.

Check the shape of the leaves on the tree. Most sassafras trees contain three different leaf shapes. One shape resembles a child's mitten, while others are oval or resemble a webbed foot.

Look for brownish-red bark containing deep furrows. Break open the bark to look for a cinnamon color.

Check the tree for yellowish-green clusters of flowers in May or dark blue fruit in September. Both male and female trees produce flowers, though only the female bears fruit.

Snap off a twig, and smell it. Sassafras trees were once used in the production of root beer. This practice was discontinued, but the distinctive aroma of root beer is a relic of the tree's inclusion.

Sassafras trees are found in the eastern portion of the United States.