Japanese Holly 'Sky Pencil'

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

Japanese Holly 'Sky Pencil' is a shrub for focal point, structure, suited to full sun to partial shade and loam or acid soil, flowering May, Jun.

Where to use it in a border

At around 240 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 60 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 5a to 8a, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of full sun, acid soil, evergreen plants, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Japanese Holly 'Sky Pencil''s height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
• It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• False Holly 'Goshiki'to edge in front
• Wax Begoniato edge in front
• Boxwood 'Green Gem'to edge in front
• Boxwood 'Green Velvet'to edge in front
• Boxwood 'Winter Gem'to edge in front
• Annual Vincato edge in front

Garden styles

Formal Foundation planting Modern Shade cottage