Carissa Holly - 3 Gallon

Carissa Holly - Compact Evergreen Hedge Dense Foliage Shrub | 3-4 ft, Single Plant

Create impenetrable privacy screens and formal hedging with this dense, naturally compact holly that maintains perfect form with minimal pruning. The Carissa Holly is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub that delivers exceptional year-round structure with small, glossy dark green leaves and incredibly dense branching habit. This exceptional hedge holly has become a landscape professional's preferred choice for creating formal hedges, privacy screens, and foundation plantings where consistent, refined appearance is essential. With its naturally compact growth habit and small-scale foliage that creates incredibly dense coverage, the Carissa Holly transforms ordinary landscape borders into sophisticated, evergreen barriers. The tight, dense branching and predictable 4-6 foot mature size create perfect formal hedging and privacy screening while providing consistent evergreen structure and excellent security barriers. Unlike larger holly varieties that require frequent pruning to maintain shape, these compact evergreen hollies provide all the privacy and formal appearance benefits that actually improve with minimal maintenance and occasional shaping.

Why You'll Love the Carissa Holly

Incredibly Dense Privacy: Small, glossy leaves on tight, dense branches create impenetrable privacy screens and formal barriers, making this the perfect choice for property boundaries, security hedging, and creating intimate outdoor spaces.

Perfect Formal Hedge Performance: Plant 3-4 feet apart for hedging and they quickly form neat, uniform barriers requiring minimal pruning to maintain shape. These compact hollies have proven exceptional performance in both residential and commercial formal landscape applications.

Outstanding Heat Tolerance: Thrives in USDA zones 7-10 with excellent heat and humidity tolerance superior to many holly varieties. Once established, these evergreens demonstrate remarkable drought resistance and maintain dense foliage even in challenging southern climates.

Low-Maintenance Formal Appeal: A perfect formal landscaping choice due to its naturally compact, uniform growth habit requiring minimal pruning and excellent pest resistance - ideal for creating sophisticated hedge lines with minimal ongoing maintenance requirements.

Carissa Holly Details

• Botanical Name: Ilex cornuta 'Carissa'
• Type: Evergreen holly shrub
• Mature Size: 4–6 ft tall × 4–6 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate — up to 6–12 inches per year
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained; tolerates various soil types
• Water: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7, 8, 9, 10

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions from sandy to clay-based soils with good drainage. However, well-draining, slightly acidic soil produces optimal growth and densest foliage, while poorly-draining or extremely alkaline soils can cause stress and reduced density.

Light Requirements: Performs well in full sun to partial shade, with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal density and compact growth. Optimal placement in full sun locations results in the densest foliage and most compact hedge formation.

Hardiness: USDA zones 7-10, making it suitable for warm temperate to subtropical climates across the southeastern United States and mild winter regions, with excellent heat and humidity tolerance.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during establishment period, then occasional deep watering during extended dry periods. Established plants are quite drought tolerant but benefit from consistent moisture during extreme summer heat.

Pruning: Light pruning in late winter or early spring maintains desired shape and density. Can be formally sheared for precise hedge lines or lightly pruned for natural form - responds well to regular maintenance pruning.

Fertilizing: Apply balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring for optimal growth and foliage density. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which can promote loose growth and reduce natural compact habit.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Carissa Holly's versatility makes it suitable for: formal hedging, privacy screens, foundation plantings, security barriers, topiary work, and container gardening.

Security Hedge Excellence: Creates dense, impenetrable barriers that provide both privacy and security benefits, unlike open-growing shrubs that offer minimal privacy or deterrent value while requiring more maintenance to achieve formal appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Carissa Holly for a formal hedge? Plant 3-4 feet apart for formal hedging or privacy screens, or 4-5 feet apart for foundation plantings. Closer spacing creates faster hedge formation but may require more frequent pruning as plants mature.

How dense does Carissa Holly grow and how often does it need pruning? It develops extremely dense, tight growth that creates excellent privacy. Light pruning 1-2 times per year maintains formal shape, while minimal pruning allows natural compact form - much less maintenance than faster-growing hedge plants.

Is Carissa Holly heat tolerant and does it produce berries? Yes, it's exceptionally heat and drought tolerant once established, thriving in hot, humid southern climates. This cultivar typically doesn't produce significant berry crops, focusing energy on dense foliage growth instead.