It is characterized by the distinctive reddish-brown tufted fibers or small scales on the cap, and the presence of a woolly veil on the stem.

A mycorrhizal fungus, S. lakei grows in association with Douglas fir, and is found where this tree occurs.

[8][9] The mushroom is commonly known as the "western painted Suillus",[10] the "matte Jack",[11] or "Lake's slippery cap".

Heavy rain can wash the fibrils off the cap surface, leaving a sticky, glutinous layer behind.

[10] The cap margin is initially curved or rolled inwards, but unrolls as it grows and in maturity may be curled upward.

The tissue of the stem base may weakly stain bluish-green when cut, although this reaction is not usually apparent in mature specimens.

[10] There are both two- and four-spored basidia (spore-bearing cells), and they are club-shaped, hyaline (translucent), with dimensions of 28–36 by 10–12 μm.

[12] Smith and Thiers note that it is difficult to tell the difference between the two if S. ponderosus has lost its veil, since the colors of the species intergrade and cannot reliably be used to distinguish them.

S. caerulescens is a similar species in western North America; it can be distinguished by the strong blue staining that develops when the stem is injured.

[21] Fruit bodies grow solitarily or in groups on the ground in young conifer stands or grassy parkland.

Suillus lakei forms ectomycorrhizae with Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and its distribution coincides with this tree.

[22] In a study of host specificity in pure culture in the laboratory, S. lakei failed to form healthy ectomycorrhizas with Eucalyptus roots—the hyphae were covered in mucilage-like deposits and appeared to be collapsed.

The fungus has been found in several central and south European countries following the intentional introduction of Douglas fir.

[24] These include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic,[25] Germany, Hungary,[26] Italy,[27] and Slovakia.