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    • Photo of Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' foliage, form by Secret Garden Growers

    Photo by Secret Garden Growers

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

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    Buy Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

    Also Known As

    • Ilex crenata 'Skypencil'
    • Ilex crenata Sky Sentry™
    • Japanese Holly
    • Sky Pencil Japanese Holly
    • Sky Sentry™ Japanese Holly

    Plant type

    shrub

    size

    • H: 6'-10'
    • W: 2'-3'

    planting zones

    • 6a-10b

    1 gallon bagged root ball | $21

    Ships UPS, flat charge based on order total

    30 at Gossler Farms

    3 inch pot | $13

    Ships USPS, based on weight/location

    Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

    3.5" | $13.95

    Shipping based on order size & location

    Fewer than 18 at Noname Nursery

    #2 Container | $54.99

    Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

    Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

    #3 Container | $84.99

    Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

    Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

    More Options

    Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' plant details

    Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' is a moderate-growing, slow-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub with green foliage. In spring green and white flowers emerge. Features glossy texture. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular - occasional water. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

    Plant type: shrub
    Plant family: aquifoliaceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 2 FT - 3 FT - wide, 6 FT - 10 FT - tall
    Flowers: green and white blooms in spring
    Uses: border plant, columnar, container plant, dwarf, formal-garden, hedge, screen, winter interest, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

    USDA Zones: 6a - 10b
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
    Watering frequency: regular - occasional
    Resistant to: deer, heat, humidity and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

    We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Everyone seems to be looking for vertical plants that are evergreen, but not coniferous. Our original plants are 8' tall by 1' wide.

    By: Gossler Farms

    A columnar evergreen with shiny dark green leaves and purple berries in fall.

    By: Conifer Kingdom

    This shrub has a dense, narrow, columnar habit, making it ideal as a hedge plant or in containers. Leaves are less than an inch in length and dark green. Small, white, Spring-time blooms often attract bees, but are mostly considered insignificant. Does well with access to sun and shade.

    By: Noname Nursery

    This extremely narrow, columnar holly forms a wonderful upright pencil-shaped shrub to 10'tall and only 2-3' wide. An excellent hedge or screen as it is very adaptable to shearing or a knockout stand-alone specimen. The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington D.C. introduced this garden treasure which also tolerates air pollution! S/M

    By: Forestfarm

    The perfect exclamation point for your garden! Bolt upright, rich green pillar that stays narrow – 6-10' tall and a mere 2-3' wide at maturity. Beautiful, evergreen vertical statement for the mixed border…a tall anchor for that small corner or the perfect screening hedge for that shallow strip! Requires little to no pruning to keep that slim, trim shape; easy in sun to part shade, most soils, average H2O, not at all fussy.

    By: Secret Garden Growers

    A particularly useful form of the oft used I. crenata, this miniature ???Italian cypress?? forms a handsome evergreen exclamation point in the landscape, growing to 5-6 ft or so, maintaining a very narrow width, often not more than 1 ft to 18??, a very good structure for the garden or container. Tolerant of dappled shade and certainly full sun, preferring at least occasional summer water. Cold hardy in USDA zone 6.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    The sky pencil holly is perfect as a focal point when planted as a specimen with other plants, or for a formal, sleek look when planted in containers and placed near an entryway.

    By: Maples N More Nursery

    Narrow, very upright female Japanese Holly that works great as an exlamation point in the landscape. Dark, lustruous green leaves stay nice year round. Works great up against a wall and also in container plantings. Growth Rate medium

    By: Garden World

    Used as a foundation plant, in hedges and borders. Tiny black fruit appears September-October, often lasting until spring. 'Sky Sentry' Japanese holly, 6-8 feet narrow upright. Grow in full sun in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil.

    By: Bloom River Gardens

    FEMALE. Syn. 'Sky Pencil'. A variety that has a dense, narrow, columnar habit with small dark green leaves. This is a vigorous grower.

    By: Greer Gardens Inc.

    Sky Pencil grows into an radically thin tall column eventually reaching 6 to 8' tall but only 1 to 2' wide. Ideal for formal effects. Leaves are a dark lustrous green. Introduced in 1985 by the U.S. National Arboretum

    By: Fantastic Plants

    No pruning required! The tight columnar habit of this beautiful evergreen shrub with deep green glossy foliage lends itself perfectly to the formal landscape. Introduced by the US National Arboretum in 1992.

    By: Almost Eden

    Sky Pencil stays very narrow and grows slowly to 6-8'. Best in zones 5-7. Great in a pot or formal garden.

    By: Whitman Farms

    Introduced by the National Arboretum. Vertical accent for small spaces in the landscape and foundation. Specimen or group. Good corner planting. Also effective as a narrow hedge or screen. So, this unique holly can edge, hedge or just decorate your garden! A National Arboretum Introduction.

    By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

    Upright, columnar- growing evergreen holly.

    By: Thompson's Nursery

    Dark green foliage clothes a columnar plant. Excellent as an exclamation point in a mixed border, and a pair (in pots or in the ground) make fabulous evergreen sentries for a doorway or gate.

    By: Briggs Plant Propagators

    Gardening facts about Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' plant

    How to Grow Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly shade

    • Water Needs

      • regular - occasional

    • Soil Needs

      • adaptable
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • humidity tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • white
      • green

    • Wildlife

      • bees
      • deer resistant

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • glossy

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