Plant Profile: Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'

Names

Sky Pencil, Sky Pencil Holly

  • Photo of Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil's)

Phonetic Spelling:EYE-leks kre-NAH-tuh

Genus:Ilex

Species:crenata

Family:Aquifoliaceae

Sky Pencil Holly is an attractive evergreen shrub belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family. Reaching heights of 6 to 8 feet, it features a dense, tightly branched structure with a columnar form. This plant serves as an excellent choice for containers or as an accent piece, making it particularly suitable for formal gardens where it adds a striking vertical element to mixed borders. Preferring full sun to partial shade, it thrives in clay soil but can tolerate poor, sandy conditions. However, it does not fare well in alkaline soils or during droughts. Sky Pencil Holly is also easy to transplant and adapts well to urban environments. While it may face some pest issues, it requires protection from strong winds.

**Quick Identification Tips:**

For further details, refer to information on Ilex crenata.

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Feature Summary

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Image Gallery

Tags

#small tree
#full sun tolerant
#green
#shrub
#dark green
#accent plant
#mixed borders
#columnar
#easy to transplant
#black berries
#glossy leaves
#formal gardens
#borders
#black fruits
#urban conditions tolerant
#clay soils tolerant
#partial shade tolerant
#stormwater demo garden orange co

Similar Plants

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' is often confused with:

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Feature Summary

Fruit
This plant produces black berries.
Leaves
Leaves are alternate, glossy, dark green, slightly convex, and 1 3/8" long and 3/4" wide.
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Attributes
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Acid (<6.0)
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Fruit

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Fruit Description

This plant produces black berries.

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Fruit Color

grass
Black

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Leaves

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Leaf Description

Leaves are alternate, glossy, dark green, slightly convex, and 1 3/8" long and 3/4" wide.

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Attributes

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Whole Plant Traits

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Cultural Conditions

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Stem

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Landscape

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland