Sky Pencil Japanese Holly- Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'
A narrow, columnar form with dark green foliage that stays neat year-round, and often sports small purple berries in fall, with a male pollenizer nearby. Leaves lack sharp points, making it ideal for decks, patios, or entryways as a vertical accent or privacy screening. Makes an elegant, formal statement in large containers. Evergreen.
CARE
Prefers light, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, but highly adaptable. Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Tolerates mild drought, when established. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer in spring. Prune annually to shape.
DETAIL
| Average Size at Maturity | Moderate growing; reaches 6 to 8 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide. |
|---|---|
| Bloom Time | Inconspicuous; prized for foliage. |
| Design Ideas | This columnar holly makes a great vertical accent in narrow spaces. Use in portable pots and boxes for porch, patio and terrace. Try pairs to flank a wall fountain or a sculpture. Use four matched at corners of a simple parterre. Exceptional at front entry to traditional architecture. Plant close together for a windbreak, privacy screen or solid background for an artistic focal point. |
| Deciduous/ Evergreen | Evergreen |
| Foliage Color | Dark Green |
| Garden Style | Asian/Zen, Contemporary |
| Growth Habit | Columnar |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Landscape Use | Border, Container, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen, Specimen, Urban Garden |
| Light Needs | Full sun |
| Soil Needs | Tree & Shrub Food |
| Special Feature | Dense Habit, Easy Care, Ornamental Berries, Tolerates Acidic Soil, Year-round Interest, Tolerates Urban Pollution, Compact Form |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Watering Needs | Water regularly - weekly, or more often in extreme heat or containers. |
| Key Feature | Vertical Accent Plant |