Ilex cornuta 'Carissa'

'Carissa' is a cultivar that makes an excellent formal shrub growing up to 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide. This compact plant is drought and heat tolerant once established and has dense, rounded, evergreen leaves that look particularly attractive as a backdrop to colorful flowering plants. It thrives in the sun or partial shade and in slightly acidic well-drained soils. 'Carissa' is less cold hardy than 'Dwarf Burford', but is just as easily transplantable.  Its large leathery leaves with a single spine at the tip are glossy, provide coarse texture in the landscape, and remain attractive all year.  Its flowers are fairly insignificant though fragrant and this cultivar does not produce many of the traditional red fruits.  

Use it as a hedge, a screen, in a shrub border, or foundation planting. It can be pruned almost any time of year though pruning is rarely necessary as it maintains is rounded shape well and should be fertilized lightly each spring and fall.  

This shrub is particularly resistant to browsing by deer.

Quick ID Hints:

• Translucent rim around the leaf margin.
• Single spine at leaf apex.
• Leaves are shiny and dark green above, but flat and olive green below.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has few pest problems.

More information on Ilex cornuta.