Sassafras albidum Wind dark-green often aquiring an attractive

dark-green often aquiring an attractive purple hue in autumn

As spring approaches the buds' protective furry coat cracks open to reveal a lovely deep reddish-purple bud which later opens to red-purple and pink within

Also interesting in autumn when this conifer surprisingly takes on the golden tones of its deciduous neighbours then drops all its needles to reveal a bleak winter silhouette

but with the same elegant matte green colour

Sassafras albidum Wind dark-green often aquiring an attractiveNative to North America, and with long culinary significance, the sassafras is an upright tree with a loose, broadly oval crown. The 3 lobed leaves are attractively glossy green and colour well in autumn with gold and red tones. Small yellow flowers emerge with the leaves in spring. Best in well drained, acidic to neutral clay or loam. Suckers freely. H5