Smooth blackhaw is a sturdy, shapely shrub or small tree, 12-15 ft. tall, sometimes growing to 30 ft. Rounded in outline, this deciduous shrub bears white flower clusters followed by yellow berries turning blue-black. Attractive, dark-green foliage becomes reddish-purple in fall. Shrub or small tree with short trunk, spreading, rounded or irregular crown, many showy, small, white flowers, and small, blue-black fruit.
The fruit is consumed by songbirds, gamebirds, and mammals and can be made into preserves. The astringent bark was formerly used medicinally.