Cornus alternifolia is a species of flowering plant in the dogwood family Cornaceae, native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to southern Manitoba and Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and Mississippi.

The branches manifest in horizontal layers separated by gaps, with a flat-topped crown, said to resemble a pagoda.

[8] Seedlings are shade-tolerant and it is often found as an understory tree in mature forests, such as those dominated by Acer saccharum (sugar maple) or Populus (aspen).

[9] The tree is regarded as attractive because of its wide-spreading shelving branches and flat-topped head, and is often used in ornamental plantings.

The cultivar 'Argentea'[10] (silver pagoda dogwood) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).

Proper siting of the plant in partial to full shade, along with adequate mulch and water, will reduce the incidence of this pathogen.