Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba 'Byboughen' NEON BURST)
Compact Cornus alba 'Byboughen' NEON BURST offers chartreuse foliage, fall color, and vibrant red winter stems. Low maintenance Tatarian dogwood for zones 2-7.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST is a sensational compact selection of the Tatarian dogwood, prized for its year-round ornamental interest. This variety shines brightest in winter, providing vibrant red stems against the stark landscape. It offers bright yellow to chartreuse foliage through spring and summer, followed by an attractive fall display.
As a low-maintenance deciduous shrub, the Tatarian dogwood establishes easily and provides reliable structure in the garden. It matures to a manageable 4-5 feet tall and wide, making it an excellent choice for smaller spaces where traditional Tatarian dogwood varieties might overwhelm. This specific cultivar, ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST, resists scorching even in full sun.
Beyond its striking stem color, the Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST provides small white spring flowers and attractive summer berries favored by birds. Whether used as a dense screen or a specimen accent to showcase its winter color, this dogwood is a versatile and highly rewarding addition to temperate gardens.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Cornaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 2-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 4-5 ft
- Spread: 4-5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant the Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST where it can receive full sun to partial shade, ensuring at least partial sun to achieve the best stem color. The best location involves organically rich, consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soils. This particular Tatarian dogwood is quite adaptable and tolerates a wider range of conditions, including established shrubs that handle some dry spells and even occasional standing water.
Watering should be medium and consistent, especially during its first few growing seasons. While generally low maintenance, managing its spread is important if you wish to prevent colonial expansion; trim roots with a spade or remove root suckers promptly. For superior stem coloration on your Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST, pruning is highly recommended.
To maximize the vibrant color, prune 20-25% of the oldest stems in early spring annually. This encourages the vigorous growth of new stems, which display the most intense color. Alternatively, a harder pruning (coppicing all stems to 8 inches) every 2-3 years will completely renew the shrub. Avoid heavy pruning after mid-spring to ensure you don’t remove potential summer flowers. Gardeners in hot climates south of Zone 7 should monitor closely, as stress can increase vulnerability to cankers.
Landscape Uses
The moderate size of Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST, topping out around 5 feet, makes it an excellent structural element where larger dogwoods are impractical. It functions perfectly as a formal or informal hedge, creating dense property line screens due to its dense habit. For naturalistic plantings, massing several shrubs together in moist soil allows them to form a loose, attractive thicket.
Designers frequently utilize this Tatarian dogwood as a winter accent. Site the plant where the vibrant red stems can be easily viewed from windows or outdoor living areas, particularly near evergreen backdrops which enhance contrast. Combining Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST with other dogwoods possessing contrasting stem colors, such as yellow or maroon, creates a dynamic, year-round bicolor display. Its dense structure also lends itself well to creating layered shrub borders.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Insignificant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Cornus alba, commonly called tatarian dogwood, is a rapid-growing, multi-stemmed, suckering, deciduous shrub that is native to eastern and central Asia in areas in part inhabited by Tatars or Tartars. ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST is a compact selection of tatarian dogwood that features bright yellow to chartreuse foliage in the spring and summer, a showy display of fall color, and vibrant red stems in winter. Small white flowers are borne in terminal clusters in mid-spring, and the shrub was discovered as a branch mutation on a Cornus alba ‘Morden Amber’ plant.
Tolerances
- Dry Soil
- Wet Soil
Potential Problems
Tatarian dogwood selections like Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST are generally hardy but can occasionally face fungal issues. They are susceptible to leaf spot, twig and leaf blights, and canker, particularly when stressed by heat or humidity outside their preferred zone range. Occasional insect pests may include scale, leaf miners, and borers. Maintaining good air circulation through proper spacing and seasonal pruning helps mitigate fungal risks, while yearly inspections can catch pest infestations early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Tatarian dogwood suitable for?
This compact selection, Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST, thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 7.
How large does Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a mature height between 4 and 5 feet tall, with a spread of 4 to 5 feet.
What sun exposure does Tatarian dogwood need?
For optimal growth and best stem color intensity, full sun is preferred, though it tolerates partial shade well.
When does Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST bloom?
The shrub produces small white flowers primarily from May into June, sometimes showing sporadic rebloom into early summer.
Conclusion
The Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST delivers tremendous seasonal interest packed into a manageable, low-maintenance package suitable for many colder climates. Its durable nature and stunning red winter stems define its value as an outstanding specimen or mass planting. Before planting, be sure to check your local USDA hardiness rating and plan your pruning strategy to ensure the best possible stem coloration next winter.
Companion Planting
This dogwood performs best when paired with plants that share similar cultural needs, particularly medium water and full sun to part shade exposure. Good companions for borders include various ornamental grasses that provide fine texture contrast, such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivars that echo the yellow tones in fall. For an excellent textural and color pairing that complements the winter red stems, consider planting white-flowering Hydrangea varieties that prefer consistent moisture, or dark green, broadleaf evergreens for stark winter contrast.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the most critical time for the Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ NEON BURST; perform annual renewal pruning early in the season before new growth begins, removing 20-25% of the oldest wood or coppicing for a full reset. During the summer, monitor moisture levels, remembering that while established shrubs tolerate some dryness, consistent moisture boosts vibrancy. In autumn, enjoy the foliage transition, and avoid heavy fertilization, which can encourage late, tender growth that might not harden off before winter arrives.
