Sassafras randaiense, a colorful tree

Sassafras randaiense grows in Taiwan's mid-altitude tropical forests. But this tree with its colorful foliage and fruit remains rare in the wild and even rarer in our gardens.

How to recognize Sassafras randaiense?

Sassafras randaiense is a deciduous tree with a dense growth habit. It grows up to 20 meters tall.

The trunk is covered with dark brown bark. Deep grooves run vertically through the bark. The green or reddish branches bear lenticels and leaf scars.

Different leaf shapes are found on the same tree. They may be whole, two-lobed or three-lobed. Medium-green, they are borne on a reddish petiole and have pronounced veins. Blades are ten to fifteen centimetres long and six centimetres wide.

Panicles of yellow flowers appear in February, before the foliage returns. Unlike the Iroquois Laurel, Sassafras randaiense can bear both male and female flowers on the same tree.

The female flowers give rise to blue drupes less than a centimetre in diameter. They contain the seed that birds will spread.

Sassafras randaiense is not toxic on contact. But its bark contains safrole, a harmful chemical compound when consumed in large quantities.

Our maintenance tips

Watering

Water the base of your sassafras randaiense when the soil is about three centimeters dry. Your plant likes rainwater, but will also tolerate mains water.

Don't let water stagnate in the planter or saucer. It will rot the roots.

Repotting

Soak the root ball of your Sassafras randaiense to rehydrate it. Shake the plant to remove excess water.

Get a pierced terracotta pot. You can make a bed of clay balls at the bottom to improve drainage. Mix at least 25% heather soil with ordinary potting compost. Pour on a layer of substrate and plant your Sassafras randaiense.

Water generously to remove air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Fertilization

Put compost at the foot of your Sassafras randaiense to stimulate its growth.

Prune

To encourage the growth of your Sassafras randaiense, prune regularly.

Remove the suckers that form at the foot of your Sassafras randaiense if you want your tree to retain a single trunk and not multiply.

Remove dead branches at the base using clean, sharp pruning shears.

You can also remove any suckers growing on the trunk.

Plantation

Soak your Sassafras randaiense. Meanwhile, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Place a handful of organic fertilizer at the bottom.

Plant your Sassafras randaiense. The top of the rootball should be two to three centimetres lower than the soil surface. Fill in with garden soil, compact and cover the top of the rootball.

Water for the first time to eliminate air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Take the shoots that form at the base of your Sassafras randaiense. The larger they are, the greater the chances of success. Choose shoots with several leaves.

Cut off the new plant and its roots with a clean, sharp blade.

Pour universal potting soil into a perforated pot. Use your finger or pen to make a hole. Plant your Sassafras randaiense. Water generously to encourage rooting and place the cutting in partial shade.

Information

Family	Lauraceae - Lauraceae
Type	Sassafras - Sassafras
Species	Sassafras randaiense - Sassafras randaiense
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Deciduous
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Humus soil Loamy soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots
Category	Tree
Tag	Beginner
Origin	Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	10a
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit color