It is a deciduous tree growing to 3.5–5.5 metres (11–18 ft) tall and an equal spread with a rounded crown.

Shining sumac is often cultivated, where it is well-suited to natural and informal landscapes because it has underground runners which spread to provide dense, shrubby cover for birds and wildlife.

[6] This species is valued for ornamental planting because of its lustrous dark green foliage which turns a brilliant orange-red in fall.

The fall color display is frequently enjoyed along interstate highways, as the plant readily colonizes these and other disturbed sites.

[6] The tiny, greenish-yellow flowers, borne in compact, terminal panicles, are followed by showy red clusters of berries which persist into the winter and attract wildlife.

[7][8] The leaflets are borne on alate rachis that give the plant one of its common names: "winged sumac".

[17] Rhus copallinum tolerates soil pH ranging from 5.3 to 7.5, requires between 28 and 60 millimeters of water, and can survive a minimum temperature of -28 °F.

Additionally, tea made from the fruit and bark can be used externally to treat oozing sores, burns, and blisters.

[23] The berry tea is prepared by steeping 1 teaspoon of dried fruit with every 8 ounces of water used for 30 minutes.

The bark tea uses a half teaspoon for every 8 ounces of water, requires a decoct of 15 minutes, and is then steeped for 1 hour.

[24] The fruit are not good sources of protein, fat, or calcium, but contain large amounts of tannins.

[16] It was also made into a tea that was used to treat urinary tract infections, gingivitis, ulcerated mucous membranes, thrush, and apthous stomatata.

[27] Fire eliminates the aboveground parts of R. copallinum allowing the root canals to be stimulated to increase stem production.

[13] The conservation status of Rhus copallinum is secure in New York, Pennsylvania, West Viriginia, Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina.