Ilex Cornuta Carissa #3

Are you tired of prickly bushes?

Meet the Carissa Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Carissa'). Its leaves are glossy and leathery with just one single point at the tip. It’s soft enough to brush past without needing a first-aid kit.

If you’ve dug a hole in the King, Mount Airy, or Winston, you know the struggle of the heavy Piedmont red clay. The Carissa Holly doesn’t mind it one bit. It’s an absolute grower in the Triad. It handles our sticky clay, laughs at our humid summer, and once it’s established, it’s incredibly drought-tolerant. It’s the kind of plant that forgives you if you forget to water it for a week.

Why We Recommend It:

• No “Ouch” Factor: As we mentioned, the leaves are mostly smooth with only a single spine. This makes it an excellent choice for walkways, patios, or anywhere kids and pets run around. You get the evergreen texture without the danger.

• Put Away the Ladder: This is a naturally compact, mounding shrub. It typically stays around 3 to 4 feet tall. It’s not going to shoot up to 10 feet and block your windows, meaning no ladder or worrying about constant pruning.

• Deer Resistant & Tough: Local deer tend to bypass the waxy texture of Carissa leaves in favor of your hostas. Plus, it’s resistant to many of the issues that plague boxwoods, making it a stress-free evergreen alternative for your foundation.

Best Used For:

• Low-maintenance foundation plantings (under windows).

• Defining borders along driveways or sidewalks.

• Mass plantings for a "sea of green" effect.

• A tougher, looser alternative to boxwood hedges.

The Specs:

• Growth Rate: Slow and steady (about 3–6 inches per year).

• Mature Size: 3–4 ft tall x 4–6 ft wide.

• Sun/Soil: Thrives in Full Sun to Part Shade. Loves well-drained soil but adapts surprisingly well to clay.

Ready to Dig In? Check out the full technical details on the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, or come by Mitchell’s today. Ask one of us to show you our line up of holly bushes.