NATIVE PLANT OF THE WEEK⁠ Sassafras (Sassafras albidum, Zones 4–9)⁠ ⁠ If you’ve ever wanted a tree that delivers brilliant fall color, feeds wildlife, and smells like someone crossed root beer with citrus, let me introduce you to sassafras.⁠ ⁠ Native to eastern North America—from southern Maine and Ontario out toward Iowa, then all the way down to central Florida and eastern Texas—sassafras is one of those trees that quietly does everything well.⁠ ⁠ Why Grow It⁠ • The leaves alone are worth planting it. Some look like mittens (the iconic two-lobed version), some have three lobes, and some are just simple ovals. It’s a botanical identity parade on a single tree.⁠ ⁠ • Fall color is showy in the best possible way: bright orange, red, purple, or yellow.⁠ ⁠ • Trees are either male or female. Female trees deliver clusters of small yellow spring flowers followed by dark blue fruits that birds adore.⁠ ⁠ • And the scent. Depending on which part you sniff, you might catch notes of cinnamon, citr...