Neon Burst™ is a cultivar of the Tartarian dogwood and a member of the dogwood family (Cornaceae). It is a compact shrub that grows 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, and it has an upright to rounded habit. The distinctive feature of this shrub is the bright yellow to chartreuse leaves during the spring and summer and the bright red stems during the winter. The shrub prefers full sun to partial shade and is resistant to scorching in full sun. This species is tolerant to a wide range of soil conditions, but it is best grown in rich, moist, and well-drained soils. The bright red color appears on the new stems. In the spring, the oldest stems should be removed to encourage new growth. It is a rapid grower and is tolerant of urban pollution. The Neon Burst dogwood has coppery bronze foliage in the spring and bright yellow to chartreuse during the summer. The fall foliage is in shades of gold, red, and deep purple. The small white flowers appear in clusters in mid-spring. The stems are scarlet red and are very showy during the winter. Reportedly, Neon Burst was discovered as a branch mutation on another cultivar, Cornus alba ‘Morden Amber.’ Consider the Neon Burst dogwood to add four seasons of interest to your garden. This low-maintenance shrub may be used as an accent or planted in mass as a hedge or screen. It may also be planted in a naturalized setting. Quick ID Hints: shrub with an erect and rounded habit copper bronze foliage in the spring bright yellow to chartreuse foliage in the summer gold, red, and deep purple foliage in the fall small white flowers in clusters in mid-spring scarlet red stems during the winter Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Possible insect pests may include scale, leaf miners, and borers. Potential diseases include leaf spot, twig and leaf blights, and canker. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Cornus alba .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The spring foliage color is coppery bronze, and the summer foliage is a bright yellow to chartreuse. The fall leaf color is in shades of purple, red, and gold.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small white flowers appear in terminal clusters in spring and are not particularly ornamental.
Bloom time
Spring
Stem color
Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The winter stems are scarlet red.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central and Eastern Asia
Distribution
Species native to Central European Russia, China North Central, China Southeast, East European Russia, Inner Mongolia, Korea, North European Russia, and West Siberia; Introduced: Europe-Bulgaria; US-IL
Wildlife value
The flowers attract pollinators.
Attracts
Pollinators
Play value
Colorful; Screening
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Small groups