The pink-flowering sumac is a medium size evergreen shrub growing with a dense branching habit, 4-8 ft. tall, 5-6 ft. wide. Its broadly elliptic leaves are leathery in texture, pale bluish-green in color, have wavy margins and distinctive veins. Colorful bright rose-pink flowers grow in terminal clusters in late winter to early spring and attract hummingbirds. Large flattened berry-type fruit are produced in summer.

Pink-flowering sumac is native to dry habitat conditions of Baja California and Cedros Island where it grows on bluffs, in canyons and among desert scrub vegetation. Throughout this range it shows good adaptation to heat, sun, aridity and limited summer moisture. Both its size and colorful flowering make it suited to ornamental gardens across the Inland Empire. It is adapted to full sun, good drainage conditions and in combination with other California natives that are sustained with low amounts of summer water.