Sassafras
Sassafras albidum · Hardwood · North America
Properties
| Average dried weight (est.) | 29 lb/ft³ (460 kg/m³) |
|---|---|
| Specific gravity | 0.46 |
| Modulus of rupture | 9,000 psi (62.1 MPa) |
| Modulus of elasticity | 1.12 million psi (7.72 GPa) |
| Crushing strength | 4,760 psi (32.8 MPa) |
| Shrinkage — radial | 4.0% |
| Shrinkage — tangential | 6.2% |
| Shrinkage — volumetric | 10.3% |
| Shrinkage T/R ratio | 1.6 |
Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5–3b p. 5–11; shrinkage Table 4–3 p. 4–8.
Sassafras is an aromatic eastern hardwood used locally for small boats — Native Americans prized it for dugout canoes — and for fence posts, rails, and general millwork.
Appearance & grain
The sapwood is light yellow, and the heartwood varies from dull grayish brown to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tinge. Freshly cut surfaces have a characteristic odor, and the wood is easily confused with black ash, which it resembles in color, grain, and texture.
Durability
Rated resistant to decay.
Workability
Sassafras is moderately heavy and moderately hard, moderately weak in bending and in compression along the grain, and quite high in shock resistance.
Common uses
- Small boats and dugout canoes
- Fence posts
- Rails
- General millwork
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Least Concern (checked 2026-10-24).
