I agree w/Ben.

Here are some substitute natives w/good fall color: Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Tupelo (Nyssa)

Laurel Wilt Disease is a serious threat to sassafras in much of the Southeast, but I didn't think LWD had spread as far as MD yet. LWD was confirmed in Scott County VA just a couple months ago. I'm hoping it doesn't move northward into the Great Lakes region! Local sassafras were coloring up nicely back in the first half of October:

Here in the western NC woods sassafras are understory trees. Whether this is because they die off as they get larger/older I don’t know.

But I second the Sourwood choice! Fabulous RED fall color. This year has been awesome, with the Sourwoods showing color starting in August and still going strong now in November.

OP is in Philadelphia and I think it's sure to get there. I've seen dead Sassafras here in NE Maryland, not sure if it's Laurel Wilt or something else, but doesn't seem worth it to risk it on this tree anymore. Sad but true.

I have a cluster in my front yard. The suckers are a PITA but mine are in a barked area. Maybe they wouldn't be as bad in grass. They are a fun tree with the different leaves and pretty fall colors. I was just noticing the color today.

Sourwood is very cool tree. Based on this convo I am gonna search for one to plant in very early spring. Seems to be a tuff one to get established but I enjoy a challenge.

We have sassafras in Missouri but you don't see it as a large single tree in a native setting and it is rare to see is a planted specimen. Here it is more likely to be a striking shrub-small lanky tree. My neighbor planted one that was 6-8 x 6-8 shrub in her yard under some walnuts. It was beautiful year round. I like the different hand-like leaves. Try one and post pictures.

I planted one around 2010 at a the local public library as a donation. The sassafrass tree was purchased at a native plant nursery. The tree was around 3 feet tall and in a pot. The first year in the ground I came by now and then to gave it some water. After that its been pretty much neglected but it is thriving. Its a single trunk specimen and now about 15 feet tall. Its growing out in the open getting full sun. Only issue i see is some damage to leaves due to Japanese beetles every summer but it recovers quickly. Otherwise its a care free plant.

Viper114 where are you located ?

Oh no! I just planted one and was so excited, looking forward to seeing it grow. Now, I will need to look up Laurel Wilt. Is there a way to defend against it? I am in Northern Virginia (Alexandria).

cyn427, there isn't other than the disease is less prevalent in an exposed wind and sun site, but that's no guarantee. Still, laurel wilt isn't a plague in all areas -- it might not be in yours.

Thanks for the positive thoughts, bengz! It is full sun (woods behind us were clear-cut by a developer-ugh), so fingers crossed. Next door neighbors also cut down all their trees when they moved in, so sun and wind are a good possibility.