Picea smithiana is a large tree, an evergreen growing to 40–55 meters tall (exceptionally to 60 m), and with a trunk diameter of up to 1–2 m. It has a conical crown with level branches and usually pendulous branchlets.

The leaves are needle-like, the longest of any spruce, 3–5 cm long, rhombic in cross-section, mid-green with inconspicuous stomatal lines.

Morinda spruce is a popular ornamental tree in large gardens in western Europe for its attractive pendulous branchlets.

It is also grown to a small extent in forestry for timber and paper production, though its slower growth compared to Norway spruce reduces its importance outside of its native range.

[7] Smithiana is named for James Edward Smith, an English botanist and the founder of the Linnaean Society.