Welcome to our Plant Library! This is a new feature on our website to showcase the vast selection of plants that we carry across different seasons. We are continuously adding products, so if you are looking for a specific plant not listed below, we encourage you to call or visit to see if we have it in stock!
Sky Pencil Holly
Botanical Name: Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’
Common Name: Sky Pencil Japanese Holly
Mature Height and Width: 6–10′ tall × 2–3′ wide
Growth Habit: Very narrow, upright, columnar evergreen with tight vertical branching. Maintains a pencil-thin profile with minimal lateral spread. Slow to moderate growth rate.
Foliage Description: Small, oval, smooth-edged leaves in deep glossy green. Fine texture with dense foliage held closely along upright stems. Evergreen in Zones 6–8 (marginal in protected Zone 5 sites).
Flower Description: Small white flowers in late spring; inconspicuous. Female plants may produce small black berries if a pollinator is present.
Bloom Time: Late spring
Fall Color: Evergreen; retains dark green color through winter.
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; best density and structure in full sun.
Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 6–8 (protected Zone 5 locations)
Notable Landscape Uses:
Vertical accent in narrow foundation beds; flanking entryways or garage doors; formal garden structure; container plantings; small-space privacy screens; modern landscape designs; driveway edge plantings.
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Japanese holly is generally less preferred by deer, but the narrow upright form can be susceptible to winter tip browsing in high-pressure areas. Established plants typically recover well from light damage.