The buds are small. Clusters of small white flowers appear in spring, adding a delicate touch to that exciting season. They are pretty expensive and I am afraid to invest! Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. I have three sky pencil hollies in our back yard. Thrives in areas that receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day . The fruits are hidden below the foliage. This sturdy plant features wide evergreen leaves and produces a shiny black fruit. small, black, round drupes that ripen in the fall. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has . Can I prune the branches that are extending from the base of the shrub to maintain a columnar shape? Scientific name: Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' Description The narrow, columnar form of Japanese Holly is just right for small areas. One of the three is dead. The leaves are small and measure 0.5 to 1.25 inches long and are crowded on stems. The Sky Pencil holly produces small white flowers during the summer, followed by tiny black fruits in fall if it is pollinated. For best growing results, make sure the soil drains well. They are great choices for containers, planting in narrow. Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. However, first one turned brown, and just this week I see the other one is turning brown as well. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Sky Pencil Holly is an all-female cultivar which needs a male pollinator in order to produce fruit. Behnkes has quart plants for about $10. They are in large tubs, full sun, watered daily and fertilized every other week. Sky Pencil is excellent in a container or for vertical element in the garden. Keep it shorter by keeping it sheared to the size your want. Sky Pencil holly is a variety of Japanese holly with a distinctive tall, columnar shape. Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata) is a narrow, columnar shaped evergreen plant standing like an exclamation point and announcing to all of the passersby due to its conical evergreen shape. The Sky Pencil Holly is a special form of the Japanese Holly. Virginia, Are all the leaves affected? Mature size is 6 to 10 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil its likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway. Sky Pencil hollies are narrow, columnar shrubs that grow up to 8 feet (2 m.) tall and 2 feet (61 cm.) Aphids, scales, holly leaf miners, and holly leaf blight may also be seen. It is pollinated by bees and is not self-fertile. It tolerates drought, shade, air pollution, poor soils, and clay soils and is easy to transplant. The maximum width of this plant, however, is only about 3 feet. Model # ILECRM0015. As it is often used as a boxwood substitute, it is much more amenable to a shady location than is box!! ARE THEY POISONOUS? Black, globose, berrylike-fruit on pollinated female plants from fall to winter that are 1/4 inch in length. I'm not sure on what growing zone you are in, but in zones 8 and 9, the Holly will need an afternoon shade location. Sign In. FREE delivery Feb 10 - 11 . I want this question answered by a gardening expert, not me. This plant goes by such names as sky pencil holly, Japanese pencil bush, and lacebark. But I'd prefer something green rather than blue. It is tolerant, also, of shade, although you will get the most robust growth if it receives a minimum of six hours of direct light a day. Is this due to the shady conditions? Pests that might find your Sky Pencil holly appealing include aphids, scale insects, and holly leaf miners. July 1, 2016. Now I can spend more money at the nursery on that Rhododendron I've been coveting :) Just thought I would pass this on in case anyone else was interested in this holly. Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic well-drained soil, although it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, including clay. It is suitable for informal and urban gardens. 9. The Sky Pencil isn't bothered by air pollution, making it a good choice for urban gardens and landscapes, and although it likes moist soil, it can handle some drought with little problem. This will force the plant to build stronger stems below and as the plant gets taller and larger it will be able to support itself. Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border, Mountain Ridge Top Garden - East Lawn and Lower Drive Border, dense, multi-stemmed,rigid, and compact shrub or small tree with a rounded habit, small, alternate, glossy deep green leaves with crenate to serrulate margins, undersides of the leaves as translucent glands or black dots, clusters of small 4-petaled white flowers with greenish centers that bloom in the spring. Your lack of water is more likely at this point. The specific epithet, crenata, refers to the crenate margins or shallow teeth on the edgesof the leaves. Last year we had a significant amount of heavy snow that weighed down on the branches of our sky pencil holly, causing the branches to splay out horizontally. Thank you so much for the quick reply! The leaves are small, alternate, glossy deep green with crenate to serrulate margins. I bought a 4' tall one two years ago. So, in larger areas, remove the dead grass, rake the soil and lay new sod. Sky Pencil is a upright evergreen accent plant with dense branching. Fertilizing: Every spring, this evergreen will benefit from an application of fertilizer. This shrub can be susceptible to leaf spot. The holly survived just fine, but the branches did not return to their typical vertical shape. 7 Causes of Sky Pencil Holly Turning Brown [Control Measure] By James Rivenburg. "Sky Pencil " (Ilex crenata) is a Japanese holly cultivar developed by the U.S. National Arboretum that features an unusually narrow, upright habit. You have permission to edit this article. We planted two about four years ago. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: This plant needs protection from the wind and cold with a wind break and mulching. Reason for Sky Pencil Hollies dying - Ask Extension. Steeds Holly - Ilex crenata 'Steeds'. Thanks for your thoughts! Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive . (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones), Why is My Phlox Not Flowering? These plants are dioecious, meaning that a separate male and female plant must be present for the female to be pollinated and produce fruit. #1 Home Improvement Retailer Store Finder Stressful growing conditions, especially drought and heat, are primarily responsible for tough skins. Sky Pencils don't mind pruning at all. The species is dioecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant, thus both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). Hi Jen,Actually I just planted two in containers in my son's Philadelphia Terrace garden. Ilex crenata or Japanese sky pencil holly is a unique plant that can . They make a great backdrop for a patio garden, as well, providing a verdant backdrop for flowering plants such as dahlias or zinnias. Another plant juice to avoid is that of elephant ear. I saw a Sky Pencil in Front Royal yesterday for $7.95 and forgot to go back and get it after my meeting. Here are a few more reasons to grow a Sky Pencil Japanese holly tree: Grows best in either full sun or partial shade. If you are not sure whether your sky pencil holly has web blight or botryosphaeria canker, it is best to contact your local extension office for advice before attempting any treatments yourself. The bottoms are bare and there is too much at the top. Will the Japanese sky pencil holly harm dogs or cats? Thanks again for the help! Sign up for our newsletter. In the spring, this shrub will produce tiny white flowers that are little more than blips on the stems. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Sky Pencil Japanese Holly in your home . Sky Pencils don't mind pruning at all. The other two are starting to get brown stems but allear to still have some light in them. Hello, Place your bush in the hole and backfill halfway with soil amended with rotten compost. Sky Pencil is a upright evergreen accent plant with dense branching. Here are a few more reasons to grow a Sky Pencil Japanese holly tree: Unlike most hollies, the leaves don't have sharp points and can be handled easily. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Grow plants with confidence and find new friends along the way. It is also best to plant this shrub in protected areas to prevent damage from winter's cold winds. It is a good container or accent plant and works well in formal gardens as it provides a good vertical accent in mixed borders. Too much water can cause brown leaves on your tree! My soil is clay. They ripen in early fall and will persist into spring. Botryosphaeria or sky pencil holly is also vulnerable to web blight. In the last analysis there is only one common factor between all gardens, and that is control of nature by man. Hugh Johnson, The Principles of Gardening, Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. I would like to plant several 'sky pencil' (Ilex crenata) holly at the corners of my house, to add some height. It may be best to remove them if they bother you, as their appearance is quite slight compared with other flowering shrubs like rhododendrons and azaleas. About the only extra care you need to consider for your Sky Pencil is a burlap wrapping if you live in an area with severe or windy winters. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/diseases-of-holly-bushes-pests-and-diseases-damaging-holly-bushes.htm, For more information on the care of sky pencils, please visit the following link: Water 0.8 cups every 9 days I hope it is happier in the garden. The Sky Pencil Holly is a cultivar of Ilex Crenata, Japanese Holly, a native of Japan and east Asia that can be found in thickets, woods and wet places in lowland and mountains all over Japan. You might want to start with something decent sized unless you're willing to wait. It is tolerant of a broad range of soil types, though it prefers its soil to be slightly on the acidic side. Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic well-drained soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, and actually prefers clay. This holly is a native of Japan and east Asia and can be found in thickets, woods, and wet places in lowlands and mountains all over Japan. $99.95 $129. It may grow 5 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide. The Sky Pencil does not need regular pruning; it should maintain its vertical habit with little help. If Newly planted -The soil moisture of newly planted shrubs should be checked about once a week especially during dry periods. Japanese Holly Previously known as: Ilex crenata f. genuina Ilex crenata var. While in zone 6, it needs protection from winds. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss. Has anyone grown Sky Pencil in New England? 'Sky Pencil,' is a plant with a lot of personality. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other illness in humans. I have one that's doing fine. Most orders ship immediately, but some items are seasonal and may only ship in spring or fall. Japanese Holly 'Sky Pencil' is a decorative and unusual variety; grow it as a specimen plant or in small groups of spaced out "pencils"; it is also ideal for wall side borders. Wherever there is some damage but plenty of green blades mixed in with the dead ones, or where the dead areas are only a foot or so across, you can generally rely on those areas to eventually fill in and recover. Japanese hollies grow best in full sun to shade in a well drained soil. Was this answer useful? 0 0 Answered by Mjstarnowski on March 15, 2015 A. I want this question answered by a gardening expert, not me. The cultivated area measured 24'x10' in front of a solid (no windows) outside wall. That said, it does tolerate shade. Wishlist. I planted a beautiful plant called a Sky Pencil back in the spring. If you think your sky pencil holly is infected with canker, contact your local extension office for advice. There are about 400 species of these plants. The bottoms are bare and Transplanting - Can I transplant a sky pencil Japanese holly now? 'Twiggy' Flower and Leaves (NCSU Fletcher, NC), Ilex crenata leaf compaired to Ilex vomitoria, I. crenata 'Hoogendorn' form in the summer in Moore County, I. crenata 'Hoogendorn' with young leaves in the summer in Moore County, 'Green Luster' Leaves (Buncombe County, NC), East Nepal to Temperate East Asia, Japan and Korea. Thanks Larry. Small black fruits follow the tiny white flowers in late summer and fall. Sometimes these hollies just tend to grow wider, but this can be controlled with pruning. Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home . The plant tolerates severe pruning and you will find this plant often used to make topiaries. Japanese hollies can be susceptible to black root rotcalled Thielaviopsis. It just didn't put out roots. Overwatering, high temperature, dry wind, over-fertilization, pest and disease attacks are the common detrimental causes that can make your sky pencil holly plant brown. When preparing to plant holly bushes and trees, note that some varieties need both a male and female plant in order to produce berries. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Web blight will normally appear during late summer or early autumn. Unpot the plant and tease out any encircling roots, which can slowly girdle the tree and kill it. Keep the plants watered during dry periods. The Sky Holly is a female cultivar, meaning its flowers only have female plant parts on them. Its leavesresemble boxwood, butthe Japanese holly is hardier and more disease resistant. Bloom: Spring Foliage: Year-round Fruits: Fall, Winter, and into Spring. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to Sky Pencil Japanese Holly Feature Shrub In Pot (With Soil) Model # NURSERY. I think it maxes out at 10 feet or so? My Sky Pencil hollies are 1 1/2 yrs old and about 3 ft tall. Boxwoods from Asia are more resistant to winter cold than those from Europe, (which include both the English boxwood and the American boxwood . Sky Pencil Japanese holly, Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil,' is a plant with a lot of personality. It does have a slow growth rate and it may not thrive in areas with high heat and humidity such as the southern United States or in USDA zones 8 and 9. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/care-of-sky-pencil-holly.htm. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly - Unique and with a style all its own, Ilex crenata, commonly known as Japanese holly or box-leaved holly, is a dense, multi-branched, evergreen shrub with a rounded form that typically matures to 5-10' tall and wide with dozens of uses in the landscape. Gardeners prize Japanese holly for the durable foliage and small shape of this plant. These are poisonous to humans and animals alike. Fruits are hidden below the foliage. Once it is established and growing well, you can taper off your supplemental watering. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA atUS (888) 426-4435. Of fertilizer in early fall and will persist into spring three sky Pencil holly is an all-female cultivar needs! 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