Ilex cornuta 'Carissa'

Carissa holly is a female cultivar of Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) and a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It is a compact, dense, broadleaf evergreen shrub that grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. It is a much smaller version of Chinese holly. The leaves are alternate, glossy, and dark green, with a single tiny spine at the tip of the leaf. It was named for its vegetative resemblance to the Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae).

This shrub thrives in sun or partial shade and slightly acidic, well-drained soils. It can be pruned or shaped almost any time of the year, but pruning is rarely needed. However, if you do prune, keep in mind that next year's blossoms and fruit will appear on new growth. It should be fertilized in winter or early spring to maintain good leaf color and adequate growth. This shrub is drought- and heat-tolerant once established and particularly resistant to browsing by deer.

In the spring, clusters of fragrant white flowers emerge. Although it rarely fruits, bright red berries may be seen in the fall and winter. This plant can revert to a 'Rotunda' holly leaf form that has many spines on the leaf margins. These reversions are best pruned off of the plant. 

Carissa holly is popular in the landscape, and it is frequently used in mass plantings on commercial properties. It is often used to form a low shrub mass around parking lots. The dense, rounded, evergreen leaves look particularly attractive as a backdrop to colorful flowering plants. It works well as a hedge, a screen, in a shrub border, or as a foundation planting. It is also appropriate in a winter, Asian, drought-tolerant or English garden. 

Quick ID Hints:

• compact, dense broadleaf evergreen shrub
• alternate, glossy, leathery, dark green leaves with a single tiny spine at the tip
• clusters of small white fragrant flowers in the spring
• small, bright red berries, rarely observed

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Carissa holly may be susceptible to scales and aphids. It has no serious disease problems.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

More information on Ilex cornuta.