| Common Name | Neon Burst Dogwood |
| Botanical Name | Cornus alba ‘ByBoughen’ |
| Plant Type | Deciduous shrub |
| Hardiness Zone | 2-7 |
| Mature Size | 5-6 ft tall, 5-6 ft wide |
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil | Adaptable, tolerates wet soil |
| Bloom Time | Late spring (white) |
| Fall Color | Vivid red |
| Deer Resistant | Yes |
Why Neon Burst for Wisconsin
Neon Burst brings two seasons of standout color. The chartreuse-gold foliage lights up the landscape from spring through summer, then turns vivid red in fall. Hardy to Zone 2, it laughs at Wisconsin winters. Tolerates wet soil where many shrubs would struggle. The red stems provide winter interest after the leaves drop. A compact, manageable size that fits most residential landscapes.
Planting Instructions
When: Spring or fall.
Where: Full sun for the best gold color. Tolerates part shade. One of the few shrubs that handles consistently moist soil.
How: Standard planting. Tolerates clay and wet conditions that would kill most shrubs.
Care Throughout the Season
Spring: Bright gold foliage emerges. White flower clusters in late spring.
Summer: Gold foliage holds well. Low water needs despite tolerating wet conditions.
Fall: Leaves turn vivid red. One of the more reliable fall performers.
Winter: Red stems stand out against snow. Cut 1/3 of oldest stems to the ground each spring to encourage new, brighter-colored stems.
Common Problems in Wisconsin
Very few. This is one of the lowest-maintenance shrubs in our inventory. Occasional leaf spot in wet summers, but it doesn’t affect plant health.
Companion Planting
Dark-leaved ninebark for foliage contrast. Blue-leaved hosta at the base in shade. Ornamental grasses for texture. Winterberry for a combined winter stem display.
Design and Landscape Uses
Rain gardens (handles wet soil), mixed borders, foundation plantings, mass plantings for winter stem color. The gold foliage makes it a focal point in summer. Plant in groups of 3-5 for winter stem impact.
Fun Fact
Neon Burst was developed in Canada by Brad Chicken of ByBoughen Nurseries in Manitoba. Bred for extreme cold hardiness, it was selected from seedlings that survived -40F winters. The “neon” in the name refers to the almost fluorescent quality of the gold foliage.
Neon Burst Dogwood is available at our Cedarburg nursery.