Native Plants

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Wednesday - March 11, 2009

From: Muskogee, OK
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Trees
Title: Digging sassafras roots in Oklahoma
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

When should I dig sassafras roots in eastern Oklahoma?

ANSWER:

The roots of Sassafras albidum (sassafras) can be dug any time of the year, but Winter and early Spring will be more productive as that is when the sap is still down in the roots. This Suite 101 website, Sassafras: Spice of Spring has some more details about use of the sap for making tea and traditional medicinal uses for it.