Ilex crenata

Sky Pencil Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil') is a narrow, upright evergreen shrub that typically grows 6 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, making it ideal for vertical accents or tight spaces. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers acidic, well-drained soil, though it is tolerant of a range of soil types. This holly requires moderate watering; water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry, but avoid waterlogged conditions. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly is urban tolerant and easy to transplant, but it does not tolerate drought or alkaline soils well.

Native range

Japan

Bloom time

May – June

Garden location

South Deck Foundation Bed