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Violetsblew

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

Photo by Secret Garden Growers View Original Photo

Photo of Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' foliage by Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center

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 | $23

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

#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

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

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

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 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

Garden photo gallery of Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

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By: Secret Garden Growers

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By: Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center

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Gardening facts about Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' plant

How to Grow Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

Sun Exposure
- sun - mostly shade
Soil Needs
- adaptable
- average
- well-drained
- rich
Water Needs
- regular - occasional
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- humidity tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant