- Low maintenance japanese holly with dark green foliage year round
- Low-maintenance shrub requires partial sunlight for growth
- Drought and insect resistant; grows well in USDA zones 5-9
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About This Product
The Japanese Sky Pencil Holly shrub quite literally makes an exclamation mark in your landscape. Introduced in 1992 by the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. The ilex Sky Pencil Japanese Holly features a narrow, columnar form, making it an ideal choice for garden design, small areas, or specimen plants. Its dark green foliage holds color year round, and the small evergreen tree produces showy purple berries in the fall on female plants. Also produces dainty creamy white flowers in early spring. The Japanese pencil trees grow great for use as a vertical accent plant, near entryways, or as a privacy screen or narrow hedge. You can also plant it in a large container for an elegant, formal appearance. The green pencil shrub maintains its columnar shape and growth habit without any pruning.
Highlights
- Small family-owned and operated business in north florida since the 1980s
- Low maintenance plant - enjoy the benefits without the extra work
- Vertical accent makes great pieces for entryways
- Dark green foliage holds color year round
- Japanese holly ilex crenata sky pencil, as it is named botanically, prefers slightly acidic soils that are well drained soil types, the plant will grow best in full sun to partial shade needed to keep the green colored leaves grow this plant across the United States in the department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 5-9, it is very cold hardy
- Be sure to water well the first year of planting to establish a strong root system they are somewhat drought tolerant when mature, but should be watered regularly until established, anewly planted holly bush needs at least a gallon of water a week sky pencil plant is a female cultivar that needs a male pollinator to cross pollinate in order to produce berries
- Wondering how fast do sky pencil holly grow this broadleaf evergreen shrub is a slow to moderate grower the japanese sky pencil holly growth rate is up to 6-12 in. per year because of the vertical nature of this hedge plant, it only gets 2-3 ft. wide but can be pruned narrower if preferred, it is not very fast growing so it is not hard to keep the sky pencil holly tree maintained, you can space them 1-2 ft. apart for a beautiful sky pencil holly hedge
- New sky pencil holly will grow about 10 in. until it reaches full maturity, it can reach a mature height of 8-10 ft. tall
- Deer do not usually eat japanese or sky pencil hollies, not their fruit, the inkberry, sky pencil hollies are pretty deer resistant, a deer may come and give it a nibble or 2 but prefers other things to eat
- Best time to prune a sky pencil holly is in the winter as it is dormant during those months, it is easy for the sky pencil to maintain its narrow, columnar shape naturally and requires very little pruning, if preferred however you can trim it to keep a somewhat shorter or narrower appearance good pruning techniques help keep the sky pencil tree to the desired size and shape
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Product Information
Specifications
Dimensions
Mature Height (in.) | 120 in. |
|---|---|
Mature Width (in.) | 24 in. |
Details
Additional Characteristics | Insect Resistant, Low Maintenance |
|---|---|
Annual / Perennial | Perennial |
Average Shipping Height (in.) | 18 in |
Best Time to Plant | Spring |
Bloom Season | Spring |
Blossom Color Family | White |
Botanical Name | Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' |
Common Name Family | Holly |
Container Size | #1 |
Evergreen or Deciduous | Evergreen |
Fragrance | Non-Fragrant |
Growth Habit | Upright |
Hardiness Zone | 5 (-20 to -10 F),6 (-10 to 0 F),7 (0 to 10 F),8 (10 to 20 F),9 (20 to 30 F) |
Mature Height (ft.) | Greater than 12 |
Mature Shrub Height Range (Ft.) | 10-11 Ft. |
Minimum Space Between Plantings (in.) | 24 in |
Number of plants included (Pack-Size) | 1 |
Pet Friendly | Unsafe for Pets |
Returnable | 90-Day |
Sun Tolerance | Part Sun |
Water Requirements | Twice a week |
Wildlife Attracted | Bees, Birds, Pollinators |
Wildlife Deterred | No Wildlife Deterred |
Questions & Answers
what is the best month during the year to plant this type of sky pencil holy?
Hi, The best times to plant a Sky Pencil Holly are typically spring and fall. • Spring planting allows the shrub to establish its root system before the heat of summer arrives. • Fall planting is also excellent because cooler temperatures and more consistent moisture help encourage root growth without putting as much stress on the plant. That said, Sky Pencil Hollies can be planted during summer as well, provided they are watered consistently while establishing. For most areas, March-May and September-November are generally considered the ideal planting windows. Best, Tori Perfect Plants
how tall are the plants when shipped including the container?
Thank you for your inquiry! Our Sky Pencil hollies average 2.5-3ft tall in a 1 gallon pot. Jackie
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Compare Key Features
Product Snapshot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Ideal for narrow spaces or vertical accents, this low-maintenance evergreen boasts year-round dark green foliage and deer resistance. | Ideal for narrow spaces or striking accents, this upright, evergreen holly thrives in full to partial sun. | Ideal for homeowners seeking a late-season blueberry bush with attractive foliage, delicious berries, and high antioxidant levels. | Ideal for privacy hedges or screens, this evergreen holly offers dense, lush foliage and easy care. A great choice for attracting pollinators. |
Mature Height | |||
8-10 ft. | 7-12 ft. | 6-15 ft. | 7-12 ft. |
Mature Width | |||
2-3 ft. | 24 in. | 6-10 ft. | 84 in. |
Growth Rate | |||
6-12 in. per year | |||
Evergreen | |||
Flowering | |||
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