Owensboro, Kentucky - World's Largest Sassafras Tree

With a circumference of 21 feet, the world's largest sassafras tree is thought to be between 250 and 300 years old. The tree measures over 100 feet tall. A few other sassafras trees are 60 feet or taller, but the average sassafras is 30 to 50 feet tall.

The champion sassafras was threatened by the widening of a highway in 1957. But when the bulldozers came, owner Grace Rash was waiting with her shotgun. She held them off at gunpoint until a call to the governor resulted in the building of a retaining wall to protect the tree. [Amy Murphy, 04/09/2007]

On the main street (Frederica) of town, there is the largest known sassafras tree in the world. It's thought to be between 250-300 years old. [Sally Brannen, 11/12/2005]

Owensboro is the home of the World's largest living sassafras tree. A simple marker tells the story. [Laura, 07/22/2003]