Smooth sumac has a spreading, open habit, growing up to 3 metres (10 ft) tall.

The buds are small, covered with brown hair and borne on fat, hairless twigs.

It can be found in a wide variety of habitats, from streambanks to dry and montane slopes.

[5] The fruit is sour and contains a large seed, but can be chewed (to alleviate thirst) and made into a lemonade-like drink.

[6] In 2020, archaeologists unearthed a pipe at a dig in Central Washington state, showing chemical evidence that a Native American tribe had smoked R. glabra either alone or in a blend with tobacco, perhaps "for its medicinal qualities and to improve the flavor of smoke".