The leaves of Cornus stolonifera are simple and opposite with entire margins and curved, arcuate viens. The bark is usually red, fruits are white and the pith is white. It may be confused with C. amomum which has a similar red bark, but C. amomum has blue fruits and brown pith.

Cornus stolonifera is a common shrub of wet, sunny sites and sometimes also does well in sunny terrestrial sites such as abandoned fields with heavier soils.