Sassafras tzumu, Chinese Sassafras

Less well known than its American cousin, Chinese Sassafras (Sassagras tzumu) comes to us from southern China and Vietnam. This colorful tree belongs to the Lauraceae family.

How to recognize Sassafras tzumu, the Chinese Sassafras?

In its native tropical forests, Sassafras tzumu reaches heights of over 30 meters. Grown in temperate climates, it reaches a height of 20 meters at best. This deciduous tree has a dense, upright habit.

The trunk is covered with deeply fissured bark. Yellow-green in young trees, it turns reddish-brown as the tree matures.

Oval or obovate leaves have two or even three lobes. They measure up to 18 centimetres long and eight centimetres wide, and are supported by a reddish petiole. Gray-green, they take on an orange hue in autumn.

In spring, Sassafras tzumu is adorned with panicles of yellow flowers. They appear on bare branches.

Round, dark-blue fruits replace the female flowers in autumn. These drupes contain a seed that will enable the tree to multiply.

Chinese Sassafras is non-toxic. Its bark is even used in traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia. However, it is not advisable to make your own herbal teas and remedies from the tree. The wood is rich in safrole. The safrole content is even higher than in sassafras randaiense. This substance is very harmful when consumed in large quantities over the long term.

Our maintenance tips

Watering

Water the base of your sassafras tzumu 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 tzumu 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 tzumu.

Water generously to remove air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Fertilization

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

Prune

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

Remove the suckers that form at the foot of your Sassafras tzumu 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 tzumu. Meanwhile, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Place a handful of organic fertilizer at the bottom.

Plant your Sassafras tzumu. 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.

After a few years, young shoots appear at the base. With a sharp knife, dig up one of these "babies", also removing its roots.

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

Information

Family	Lauraceae - Lauraceae
Type	Sassafras - Sassafras
Species	Sassafras tzumu - Sassafras tzumu
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Deciduous
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Humus soil Loamy soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots
Category	Tree
Tags	Beginner Rustic
Origin	Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	8a
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit color