Rhus integrifolia has flat leaves with rounded tips and should not be confused with the leaves of Rhus ovata which are generally folded along the midrib and have smooth margins and a pointed tip. The flowers also will help you distinguish these species from one another: R. integrifolia has green sepals that have tiny hairs around their edges, while R. ovata has red sepals. Laural sumac (R. laurina or Malosma laurina) can also be found at lower elevations, but is less tolerant of frost than lemonadeberry.

Take a close look at a flowering Lemonade berry. You will likely find a wide variety of flies, bees, and moths that like to visit its aromatic flowers. If you stay around a fruiting Lemonadeberry shrub long enough, you're also likely to see a variety of mammals and birds approach the plant to eat the fruits. The Chumash Indians soaked the bitter-sweet fruits of Lemonadeberry in water to make a sweet drink. Even though integrifolia indicates that leaves of this species tend to have smooth edges, it is very common to find lemonadeberry plants with toothed leaves! It is a popular ornamental plant, especially for waterwise gardens.