Plant Detail

Ilex crenata |Sky Pencil| (Japanese Holly)

A very distinctive holly, Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' is a slow growing, narrow, strongly columnar evergreen Japanese Holly with a shiny foliage of convex, dark green leaves, which holds all year. Small black fruits follow the tiny white flowers in late summer and fall. 'Sky Pencil' is a female cultivar which needs a male pollinator in order to produce fruit. Introduced by the US National Arboretum, its pencil-thin growth habit makes it perfect for small gardens. Terrific as a narrow hedge or screen, it also provides a rare natural, vertical accent in the landscape. An ideal focal plant in the garden.

  • full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in averagemedium moisturewell-drained soils. This plant is not fussy and tolerates a wide variety of soils. However, it prefers moist, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. Some drought tolerance once established.
  • May be affected by aphids, scale insects, holly leaf miner or holly leaf blight.
  • Perfect as a specimen plantfoundation plantingshedges or screens or wall-side borders.
  • Does not need to be pruned or trained to maintain its shape.

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Requirement
Hardiness 6,7,8
Heat Zones 5,6,7
Climate Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 3A, 3B
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Ilex
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Early Spring, Mid Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer
Height 6' - 7', 7' - 8', 8' - 9', 9' - 10'
Spread 1' - 2', 2' - 3'
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen, Deer Tolerant, Drought Tolerant
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage
Planting Place