The leaves are alternate and pinnately compound, each consisting of 9-31 serrate leaflets. Twigs and petioles are densely hairy. The fruit are red and hairy and can be found on the ends of the branches in cone-shaped clusters. Fruit appear in the fall and may persist into spring. This plant suckers heavily and stands may expand by annexing space from other plants, lawns, and walkways.
Seedlings appear in cracks in cement and against foundations.
Used as an ornamental it may overstep its bounds. Staghorn sumac is native to the eastern United States reaching as far south as Tennessee. It is often found on poor, dry soil and in areas where other plants find conditions too difficult to survive. Rhus copallina, dwarf sumac, is similar but has raised dots on its stem and a winged leafstalk. Also the leaflets of dwarf sumac have entire margins.