Greenish-yellow flowers appear in March and April as the leaves unfold. They develop in loose, drooping few-flowered axillary racemes. It matures in August and September of the first year. The fruit is borne on a thickened red pedicel, and the pulpy flesh covers the seed. Seed Production and Dissemination Seed production begins when trees approach 10 years of age and is greatest when trees are 25 to 50 years old.
Birds are principal agents of seed dissemination, with water a secondary agent.
Some seeds probably are distributed by small mammals. Seedling Development Sassafras seed usually remains dormant until spring, although some early maturing seed may germinate in fall. The best seedbed is a moist, rich, loamy soil with a protective cover of leaves and litter. Germination is hypogeal. Sassafras is intolerant of shade and reproduction is sparse and erratic in wooded areas.