Carissa hollies – Resprouting

Q: My ‘Carissa’ hollies have suckers coming off the roots. They look like Chinese holly leaves. I have cut them back but they keep sprouting back…what would you do?

A: University of Georgia shrub expert Matthew Chappell says that ‘Carissa’ originated from Chinese holly, Ilex cornuta. Most experts believe it came from a “sport”: an attractive sprout that appeared serendipitously among the thorny leaves of a Chinese holly. The root sprouts on your ‘Carissa’ have reverted back to its parent holly. To stop them, clip the sprouts close to the base and spray with Sucker Stopper (www.cooperseeds.com).