Carissa Holly

Carissa Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Carissa') is one of the most useful and low-maintenance evergreen shrubs available — a compact, naturally mounding holly that stays tidy without constant pruning and delivers year-round glossy green color with virtually no effort. Its leaves are distinctive: a single terminal spine rather than the multi-spined leaves of most hollies, giving it a cleaner, less aggressive look that works beautifully in foundation plantings, borders, and mass plantings.

Carissa is tough, adaptable, and forgiving — tolerating heat, drought, and a range of soil conditions once established. It grows slowly and predictably, making it ideal for spots where you want a permanent, polished evergreen presence without the maintenance headache. A workhorse shrub that earns its place in any landscape.

• Mature size: 3–4 ft tall, 4–6 ft wide — naturally compact and mounding
• Glossy dark green evergreen foliage year-round
• Single terminal spine — cleaner look than most hollies
• Slow-growing and low-maintenance
• Heat, drought, and deer tolerant once established
• Full sun to partial shade — USDA Zones 7–9
• Available in 3 GAL container

Professional installation available within approximately 1.5 hours of Owensboro, Kentucky. Orders are fulfilled on scheduled pickup dates.