Spring Planting Season is Here!! Grow Stronger, Healthier Trees for Less!!
Bare root trees grow faster, cost 50% less, AND establish much better than potted trees. PLUS they leave a much smaller environmental footprint. Order NOW before the season ends!
Sky Pencil Holly
Sky Pencil Holly
Couldn't load pickup availability
Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'
Sky Pencil Holly (Bare Root)
The Sky Pencil Holly is a sleek, ultra-narrow evergreen that brings modern elegance to gardens and landscapes. With its vertical columnar habit, glossy green foliage, and clean lines, this bare root variety is perfect for tight spaces, container planting, or accenting entryways.
Low-maintenance and tidy, the Sky Pencil Holly is deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and beautiful year-round. It’s the architect’s plant of choice for adding height and structure without width—like a living exclamation mark in your landscape design.
Sky Pencil Holly (Bare Root) Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌱 Variety | Bare Root |
| 🌿 Botanical Name | Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ |
| 🏷️ Common Names | Sky Pencil Holly, Japanese Holly |
| 🌳 Mature Height | 6–10 feet |
| 🌐 Mature Width | 1–2 feet |
| 📈 Growth Rate | Moderate (6–12 inches per year) |
| ⏳ Lifespan | 40+ years |
| 🧊 USDA Zones | 6–9 |
| ☀️ Sun Preference | Full sun to partial shade (best shape in full sun) |
| 🧱 Soil Type | Well-drained loam, clay, or sandy soils |
| ⚖️ Soil pH | Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5–7.0) |
| 💧 Water Needs | Moderate; prefers consistent moisture in early years |
| 🍃 Foliage Color | Glossy deep green (evergreen year-round) |
| 🍒 Berry Color | Occasional small black berries (ornamental only) |
| 🐝 Wildlife Attraction | Minimal – not preferred by deer |
| 🌿 Growth Habit | Columnar, upright, narrow |
| 🌸 Self-Pollinating? | Yes – but not grown for berries |
| ↔️ Spacing | 2–3 ft apart for tight hedges; 3–5 ft for accent planting |
| 🏡 Landscape Uses | Entry accents, narrow hedges, container plantings, walkways |
| 🧹 Maintenance Level | Low |
Environmental Benefits
🏢 Excellent for urban and suburban gardens where space is limited
🌿 Stays compact and vertical without shearing or spreading
🌞 Offers year-round greenery in even the smallest garden spaces
🦌 Naturally resistant to deer browsing and adaptable to pollution
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| 📏 Perfectly upright, space-saving form | ❄️ Can suffer cold damage in Zone 6 if not protected |
| 🌿 Evergreen and tidy with little to no pruning needed | 🌱 Requires staking when young to maintain vertical shape |
| 🏡 Ideal for modern landscapes, containers, and entryways | ⚠️ Root rot risk in poorly drained soils |
| 🦌 Deer-resistant and pest-tolerant | 🧪 Sensitive to over-fertilization or high pH |
| ☀️ Grows in sun or light shade with no messy leaf drop | ✂️ Slow to recover if shape is damaged |
Planting & Care Guide (Bare Root)
🛁 Soak bare root holly for 6–12 hours before planting
🕳️ Dig a hole 2× wider than the root ball; plant with crown level to soil
🌾 Mulch 2–3 inches around base to retain moisture and suppress weeds
💦 Water weekly during the first year; taper off as plant matures
✂️ Light pruning in early spring can help maintain clean shape
🧪 Apply evergreen shrub fertilizer once per year in spring
The Sky Pencil Holly (Bare Root) is your go-to for elegant vertical drama without the bulk. Whether you’re flanking a doorway, building a modern hedge, or elevating a tight garden bed, this upright evergreen delivers year-round structure, beauty, and simplicity.
Share
