Smooth sumac is a deciduous shrub with an open, irregular, spreading habit, typically growing 8 to 15 feet tall and wide (or wider). It spreads by root suckers to form thickets or large colonies. Very similar to staghorn sumac (R. typhina), except the young stems of staghorn are densely hairy whereas those of this species are smooth, hence the common name. Large, compound pinnate, shiny, dark green leaves grow with a long, fern-like appearance and turn attractive shades of bright orange to red in autumn. Tiny, yellowish-green flowers bloom in terminal panicles (5 to 10 inches long) in late spring to early summer, with separate male and female flowers appearing on separate plants. Female plants produce showy, erect, pyramidal fruiting clusters (to 8 inches long). Each cluster contains numerous hairy, berry-like drupes which ripen red in autumn, gradually turning maroon-brown as they persist through most of the winter. Fruit is attractive to wildlife. Mores a stricking architectural statement in the landscape.
Grow in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of wide range of soils except those that are poorly drained. All sumac are suckering by nature, and eventually it will spread; place accordinly.