Ilex Crenata 'Sky Pencil'

Home » How To Plant Sky Pencil Holly » Ilex Crenata 'Sky Pencil'

Maybe your like

‘Sky Pencil’ holly is a female cultivar of Japanese holly (Ilex crenata). ‘Sky Pencil’ is an evergreen shrub with densely branched, tight, columnar (fastigiate) growth habit. It is a member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae).

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 prefers clay. It tolerates shade and air pollution. However, it does not do well in alkaline soils or under drought conditions. It has a slow growth rate and may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity (USDA zones 8 and 9). ‘Sky Pencil’ holly is an all-female cultivar that needs a male pollinizer to produce fruit.

It has a fastigiate 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. ‘Sky Pencil’ is a popular cultivar in situations that show off its fastigiate form, such as a formal English garden or as a contrasting accent among low, rounded shrubs in an Asian or winter garden. Because it its distinctive growth habit, it is not suitable for naturalistic landscape designs. ‘Sky Pencil’ was voted Holly of the Year for 2004 by the Holly Society of America.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: This plant needs protection from the wind and cold with a wind break and mulching. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common diseases and insect pests.

More information on Ilex crenata.

Tag » How To Plant Sky Pencil Holly