Japanese Sky Pencil Holly

Japanese Holly Ilex crenata Sky Pencil 

The Sky Pencil Holly is a cultivar of Ilex Crenata, Japanese Holly, a native of Japan and east Asia that can be found in thickets, woods and wet places in lowland and mountains all over Japan. Sky Pencil Holly is a handsome evergreen shrub that is smaller that most of the species at 6 to 8 feet high, is densely branched, tight, and has columnar growth.

It has a fastigate form, meaning narrowing toward the top and having upright, usually clustered, branches that it maintains without pruning. It is a good container or accent plant and works well in formal gardens as it provides a good vertical accent in mixed borders.

Plant Characteristics 

The Sky Pencil Holly was voted Holly of the Year for 2004 by the Holly Society of America. Sky Pencil Holly is easy to transplant and urban tolerant. Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic well-drained soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, and actually prefers clay. It tolerates shade and air pollution. However, it does not do well in alkaline soils or under drought conditions.

Shipping

Your plant will be shipped with the roots wrapped in damp paper towels and with plastic and ready to plant upon arrival. The plant will be approximately 1 to 2 feet in height with well-developed roots. These plants have been growing in 1 gallon containers.