Ilex Crenata Sky Pencil #3

Meet the "exclamation point" of the garden. The 'Sky Pencil' Holly is exactly what it sounds like -- it grows straight up in a tight, narrow column.

We love it because it defies the normal rules of shrubs. While most bushes want to get wide and bushy, this one stays thin. It looks like a fancy Italian Cypress, but it’s actually a Japanese Holly (which means it has those nice, small, boxwood-like leaves). It’s the perfect way to add height and elegance to a space where a normal shrub simply wouldn't fit.

Here in the Piedmont, we see these used a lot to frame entryways in King and Winston-Salem. They love our sun, but a word of advice from the team: because they are tall and skinny, they can be a little prone to "splaying" open if we get a really heavy ice storm. If that happens, don't panic -- you can usually tie them back together. Also, like most hollies in our area, they prefer their feet dry, so if you’re planting in heavy clay, mound the soil up a bit to help with drainage.

Why We Recommend It:

• The Tight Solution: This is the ultimate problem solver for narrow spaces. It can grow 6 to 10 feet tall but stays a slender 2 to 3 feet wide. You can plant it in a side yard or a narrow planter box where nothing else would survive.

• Formal & Fancy: Because it grows naturally in a column, it looks manicured and expensive without you having to prune it constantly. It adds a touch of formal structure to even the most casual cottage garden.

• The Perfect Screen: If you plant them in a row about 2 feet apart, they form a "living fence." It’s a great way to block the view of a neighbor’s patio or a utility box without building an actual fence.

Best Used For:

• Framing a front door (one on each side looks professional).

• Narrow side yards.

• Large containers (they look amazing in tall pots).

• Privacy screening in small backyards.

The Specs:

• Growth Rate: Slow to Medium.

• Mature Size: 6–10 ft. tall; only 2–3 ft. wide.

• Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade.

• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil is best.

Ready to get vertical? Read more about this unique holly at the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, or come talk with us at Mitchell's. We’ve got a great selection of 'Sky Pencils' standing tall and ready to go!