A bold vertical accent with rich evergreen color and a narrow, architectural form
FEATURES:
- Tall and slender form ideal for tight spaces
- Glossy, deep green foliage all year long
- Perfect for containers, entryways, and formal gardens
- Deer resistant and low maintenance
- Excellent alternative to columnar boxwoods
- Adds structure and sophistication to any design
- Ships on our trucks because of the size of the tree – does not fit in a box
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip
Sky Pencil looks its best when planted in multiples or groupings of three. Keep spacing at 2 to 3 feet apart if you want a dense vertical hedge or screen. For standalone impact, choose a decorative container and place it near an architectural feature to echo its form.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 6-9
- Mature Height: 6-10' tall
- Mature Width: 2-3' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 2-3' apart
A bold vertical accent with rich evergreen color and a narrow, architectural form
FEATURES:
- Tall and slender form ideal for tight spaces
- Glossy, deep green foliage all year long
- Perfect for containers, entryways, and formal gardens
- Deer resistant and low maintenance
- Excellent alternative to columnar boxwoods
- Adds structure and sophistication to any design
- Ships on our trucks because of the size of the tree – does not fit in a box
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip
Sky Pencil looks its best when planted in multiples or groupings of three. Keep spacing at 2 to 3 feet apart if you want a dense vertical hedge or screen. For standalone impact, choose a decorative container and place it near an architectural feature to echo its form.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 6-9
- Mature Height: 6-10' tall
- Mature Width: 2-3' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 2-3' apart
Why plant Sky Pencil Japanese Holly?
Sleek and formal, the Sky Pencil Japanese Holly will have people raving over this columnar evergreen. This vertical holly can transform a blank space into an elegant area whether planted as an accent in a garden bed, in a container on the deck, and Sky Pencil is even ideal for use as a hedge! The best part of this unique columnar? This shrub's foliage lacks sharp points and edges, so there is not fear of accidently touching the leaves on this holly!
Japanese Hollies originiated from, you guessed it, Japan and also east Asia. Naturally, these hollies can be found in wet lowlands, thickets, and woods all over Japan's mountainous terrain. Sky Pencil is a cultivar of Japanes Hollies and has become quite popular with the public, so popular that Sky Pencil was Holly of the Year for 2004 through the Holly Society of America.
How to use Sky Pencil Japanese Holly in the landscape?
There is very little that Sky Pencil needs from you that you can just sit back and enjoy this holly. Naturally retaining it's upright, columnar shape without pruning, Sky Pencil makes a great hedge or focal point for formal gardens. Plant Sky Pencil in a favorite container or use as an accent where empty space lays dormant. The glossy foliage will stand out wherever it is planted.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
How To Plant Sky Pencil Japanese Holly
There isn't anything hard about growing this holly. Plant it in a container, and if you decide you want it in the landscape Sky Pencil is super easy to transplant. Tolerant of urban pollution and other urban conditions, this makes a great formal plant for urban landscapes. With a preference to be planted in clay, Sky Pencil can be planted in acidic, well-draining soil in full sun or part shade. Excessive heat and humidity may negatively impact Sky Pencil, so areas that see very hot conditions may not be ideal for this holly.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not much. It maintains its narrow form naturally, but light shaping can be done in late winter or early spring to encourage density or control height.
Yes. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly is evergreen and will retain its glossy green foliage throughout the winter months.
Absolutely. Sky Pencil thrives in large containers and is often used to frame doorways or patios in elegant pots.
