How big do Carissa hollies get?
3 to 4 ft. tall
An outstanding compact, dense foliage shrub with dark glossy green leaves that have one spine at the tip. Excellent for use as a low hedge, in containers or in mass plantings….We no longer grow this plant.
| Average Size at Maturity | An easy to grow shrub reaching 3 to 4 ft. tall and wide. |
|---|---|
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
Is Carissa holly prickly?
Dense growth and superior foliage make Ilex cornuta ‘Carissa’ an ideal foundation plant or low hedge. Consumers and landscape workers appreciate it because it’s less prickly than many of the other hollies on the market.
How do you care for Carissa holly?
Carissa Holly Care Plant your Carissa Holly in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Water regularly until established, and supplement during extreme heat. Fertilize if desired in the spring.
How do you prune Carissa holly?
Carissa Hollies don’t require pruning, but they tolerate it well if you prefer to keep them a certain size. Heavy pruning is best reserved for late winter or early spring. The best way to prevent disease and pests is by providing the appropriate care for your plants.
What does a Carissa holly look like?
Carissa holly is a compact, dense evergreen shrub with small, glossy, dark green leaves, each with a single terminal spine (Fig. 1). The somewhat-showy clusters of fragrant, springtime, white flowers are followed in fall and winter by bright red berries. ‘Rotunda’ has many spines along the margins of the leaf.
Is Carissa holly poisonous?
This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.
Is Carissa holly deer resistant?
Carissa Holly — Carissa holly is one of the very few evergreen mounding shrubs that are deer resistant. My favorite shrub to use as a foundation plant is Dwarf Pittosporum, but the deer will eat it to the ground in a matter of hours.
Does the Carissa holly flower?
Carissa holly is a compact, dense evergreen shrub with small, glossy, dark green leaves, each with a single terminal spine (Fig. 1). The somewhat-showy clusters of fragrant, springtime, white flowers are followed in fall and winter by bright red berries. The shrub stays small, eventually growing to about 8 feet.
Does Carissa holly grow in shade?
Growing best in rich, well-drained, slightly acid soil, carissa holly does well in full sun or part shade. The plant is very drought tolerant, requiring little, if any, irrigation once established in the landscape.
Is Carissa holly an evergreen?
Carissa holly is a compact, dense evergreen shrub with small, glossy, dark green leaves, each with a single terminal spine (Fig. 1). The somewhat-showy clusters of fragrant, springtime, white flowers are followed in fall and winter by bright red berries.
How do you plant Carissa?
The shrubs need afternoon shade in well-drained soil. Avoid growing Carissa shrubs near walkways and outdoor seating, where they can cause injuries with their thick, forked thorns. You should also keep it away from areas where children play because all parts of the plant, except the fully ripe berries, are poisonous.
What does a Carissa Holly look like?
Carissa holly is a compact, dense evergreen shrub with small, glossy, dark green leaves, each with a single terminal spine (Fig. 1). The somewhat-showy clusters of fragrant, springtime, white flowers are followed in fall and winter by bright red berries. However, the berry display is mostly inferior to Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’.
Is Carissa Holly a boxwood?
The Carissa Holly is a small evergreen shrub that fits just about anywhere in the landscape. It’s fairly slow growing so as a hedge it rarely requires pruning. The dense foliage allows this plant to be easily sculpted into shapes, curved borders, and hedges. The Carissa Holly is an excellent substitute for boxwoods.
Does Carissa Holly need maintenance?
No maintenance once established. The Carissa Holly is a hardy holly that stands up to disease, deer, heat, wind, drought, and salinity. This shrub only grows a few inches per year so you’ll only need to prune once yearly to keep a tidy hedge.
How tall do Carissa shrubs grow?
‘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.