A: Your pencil tree, Euphorbia tirucalli, is well known to produce a particularly caustic sap. Works well for tight spaces. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: This plant needs protection from the wind and cold with a wind break and mulching. These are poisonous to humans and animals alike. My soil is clay. 2023. I am in the process of digging out some ornamental grass along the fence line in full sun. Site your Sky Pencil holly in a space that gets full sun. From this picture it would appear they have grown pretty wide. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction. I'm not a big fan of the Japanese holly 'Sky Pencil,' which is a similar-looking skinny broad-leaf evergreen that you're more likely to find in a garden center. Sky Pencils are dependable performers. My Sky Pencil hollies are 1 1/2 yrs old and about 3 ft tall. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to yellow. Native; Assam, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, and Vietnam. The buds are small. Suz. The sky pencil holly plant is a handsome little evergreen shrub that will grow well in USDA hardiness zones six through nine. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/care-of-sky-pencil-holly.htm. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants. Sky Pencil holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil') is a versatile plant with dozens of uses in the landscape. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other illness in humans. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other illness in humans. 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. Everything has a reason! We had a unusually cold winter. They are great choices for containers, planting in narrow. So, in larger areas, remove the dead grass, rake the soil and lay new sod. SE Georgia, zone 8b, gardening issues more like zones 7-9. The thin columnar shape is the first thing you'll notice. Evergreen shrub produces a narrow, columnar growth habit with white blooms, and retains its color throughout the year. A pre-applied, pre-measured amount of time release fertilizer that keeps your plant wellnourished for up to one year. They also have no value as a food source for birds or other wildlife. They are grown primarily for their interesting shape and make perfect container gardens. Was this answer useful? If you think your plant might be infected with web blight, prune out all affected branches up to healthy wood. But in some cases, this Japanese holly bush can grow up to 8 feet tall, though you can keep it small with pruning. There is no cure for Sky Root Rot; the best thing you can do is make sure your Sky Pencil Holly has excellent drainage and aeration. Give them an acid mulch and keep them moist, especially the first couple of years. Give them plenty of acidic, nicely draining, good soil and pay attention to their water needs and they will perform. The Sky Holly is a female cultivar, meaning its flowers only have female plant parts on them. The Sky Pencil holly produces small white flowers during the summer, followed by tiny black fruits in fall if it is pollinated. '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. Sometimes these hollies just tend to grow wider, but this can be controlled with pruning. I lost one in deep shade. Morphology: This evergreen shrub will grow to 8' in height but stay less than 2" in width. They are in large tubs, full sun, watered daily and fertilized every other week. Your lack of water is more likely at this point. It will only produce the fruits, which are poisonous and not edible, if you plant it near another type of holly with male flowers. The foliage will remain all year long, though in cold winter climates, there may be some dieback during severe cold spells. More than likely, however, this is due to cold injury. Its black berries attract a wide range of birds. Sky Pencil Holly is an evergreen that likes acidic soil, so add some peat moss or pine straw when planting. I have dug out the dead plant and washed off the roots like suggested. Sky Pencil is a slender, columnar shrub up to 2 meters tall and 2 feet (61 cm) wide. Occasionally you may need to trim out a broken or diseased branch or one that mars the shape, and you can also trim lightly at the top to control the height. Fruits are hidden below the foliage. Why are they dying? - Will the Japanese sky pencil holly harm dogs or cats? If you want to grow sky pencil holly, choose a well-drained area with partial shade and fertile soil. Dig a hole thats twice the width and the same depth as the plants root ball. Two years later I transplanted it in the garden because it seemed rather stunted in the pot. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss. In North America there are 39 native and introduced species of holly. Once your order is shipped, youll receive an email with a tracking number and estimated delivery date. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has . This artcile will help with preventing transplant shock: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htm. You have permission to edit this article. The Holly Society of America, Inc., named 'Sky Pencil' as it's Holly of the Year in 2004. 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. Horticultural oil can help with scale and aphids, while leaf miner infestations should be pruned out and destroyed, and the bush treated with an insecticide. You must be logged into your customer account to post a review for Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'. The stems are green on current season growth, but in 2 to 3 years, the stems turn grayish-green to grayish-brown. Learn where you can find Holly Bushes and Trees for sale, plus get care, planting, and growing instructions for your Holly Bushes and Trees. To control its height, simply cut off as much from the top as necessary, though never take more than a third off the plant's growth. A US National Arboretum Introduction. Its glossy, dark-green leaves are evergreen, so it has a presence even in the middle of winter. Botryosphaeria or sky pencil holly is also vulnerable to web blight. The genus name, Ilex, comes from the Latin,Quercus ilex, for holm oak, and refers to the similarity of the leaves. All fallen plant debris should be burned or discarded in bags that are sealed up tight. 'Sky Pencil' Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata By Michelle Wishhart. Follow the label for recommended rate of application. Evergreen -slower grower. Thanks Larry. Hi Jen,Actually I just planted two in containers in my son's Philadelphia Terrace garden. Then, dig the hole twice the width and the same depth as the Sky Pencil's root ball. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive . 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. The leaves and berries of the Japanese Sky Pencil are mildly poisonous and will cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. Our best and highest-quality tomatoes are harvested in May to late June. The pistillate cyme appears in the leaf axils of the current season's growth. H. Low maintenance. Mature size is 6 to 10 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Can I wrap the branches to retrain them to grow upwards? J. Sanders. The berries are poisonous to humans but an important food source for birds during the winter. It's very "bushy" looking now. Fertilize in early spring by applying a slow release fertilizer specialized for evergreens. Click on links below to jump to that question. This article will cover the most common sky pencil holly problems. Best of all, it grows well through most of the contiguous United States, with the ability to thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9. Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Hetz's Japanese holly does not grow fast and can take several years to mature. This plant is deer resistant, at least partially, though there is a chance that rabbits and other rodents may eat this plant. They also have no value as a food source for birds or other wildlife. 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. Aphids, scales, holly leaf miners, and holly leaf blight may also be seen. It is a good container or accent plant and works well in formal gardens as it provides a good vertical accent in mixed borders. It is tolerant of a broad range of soil types, though it prefers its soil to be slightly on the acidic side. Lane Carlyle. It is suitable for informal and urban gardens. Most people wouldn't bother, but I'm very picky and I prune. When you are buying your Sky Pencil Holly, be sure to take a look at its foliage and berries before making your purchase. At this point, the sky pencil holly will be done blooming for the year. Winter Red Winterberry Holly Shrub . Sky Pencil is a cultivar of the Japanese holly Ilex crenata. 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. Behnkes has quart plants for about $10. Web blight will normally appear during late summer or early autumn. Japanese holly serves as a common foundation plant around older homes. Black, globose, berrylike-fruit on pollinated female plants from fall to winter that are 1/4 inch in length. Infrequently, a female-flowering selection will fail to produce fruit, mainly because of its slow . It is native to forests, thickets and mountain slopes in Japan, Korea, China and eastern Russia and appreciated . Sometimes these spots will fall out of the foliage on their own, though you can always clip off any leaves that are severely damaged. I have taken good care of these plants, watered regularly and they get plenty of sun. For best growing results, make sure the soil drains well. Geranium: All varieties of this common container plant are poisonous to dogs. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! We use and recommend www.dripdepot.com for our irrigation needs, from simple to install micro and drip systems, to commercial grade irrigation parts and supplies. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The leaves and berries of the Japanese Sky Pencil are mildly poisonous and will cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. I have three sky pencil hollies in our back yard. Let them grow to the height you would like, and then just keep the top trimmed. I have a heavily wooded property and the garden where https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htm. Place your bush in the hole and backfill halfway with soil amended with rotten compost. 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. The disease will cause the leaves of this shrub to turn brown, with scorched or burnt edges. I bought a 4' tall one two years ago. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Spider mites and nematodes are occasional pests. Were the root balls loosened well upon planting, and was the soil amendment mixed thoroughly with the native soil? Yes, as long as you replant in a suitable location and keep it watered, it should do fine. Thanks so much for you help! The Sky Pencil holly is an easy keeper. Place this bush near a wall or fence where it can grow unobstructed. Some people think this bush looks like a small yew. When you do this, you will cut off some of the webbing, but not all of it. This shrub can be susceptible to leaf spot. The shrub is dense, multi-stemmed,rigid and compact with a rounded habit. If the Sky Pencil Holly is infested with Sky Root Rot, its roots will begin to turn brown and die back. Now I will NOT be going back for it. Sky Pencil Holly will need to stay in an area with partial shade and moist, but not wet soil. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. But the sky Pencil are just not making it. Is this due to the shady conditions? Steeds Holly is an excellent pairing with Sky Pencil, as it grows naturally in pyramid formations that you can easily prune to perfection . Very dependable everygreen foliage for zones 7-9. The other two are starting to get brown stems but allear to stil Hello, According to Greenhouse Product News, this fungal . Fertilizing those areas now would be fine to encourage the healthy grass to grow and fill in (and you can also fertilize the rest of the yard at the same time, if you like). 7 Causes of Sky Pencil Holly Turning Brown [Control Measure] By James Rivenburg. I hope it is happier in the garden. I love them and want more. As long as there is any other type of male or female holly in the vicinity your hollies will cross-pollinate. Mature size is 6 to 10 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. I notice they are getting thicker and bushier while retaining their height. 00. Sooner Plant Farm, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. In fact, if the roots of your sky pencil holly don't have enough room to breathe, they will begin to rot and you'll find yourself with a brown tree instead! Even though poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, has been shown not to be dangerous, the sap should be avoided. The Holly Sky Pencil is a narrow, columnar shrub that produces small, greenish evergreen leaves. Catalogs of new and exciting plant brands, such as. There is a specimen plant at Brookside Gardens near the front side entrance to the Visitors Center. It's also an easy-care tree, bothered by few pests or diseases. They are shiny and dark green on the upper surface and dull light green beneath. Ilex crenata 'Sky pencil' Shiny dark green leaves all year on a narrowly upright frame. I do not see any black lesions on the root system. Japanese Sky Tree Seedling 'Pencil Holly 6-12" in Height. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/care-of-sky-pencil-holly.htm. Can the plants kill them? I have three sky pencil hollies in our back yard. They are beautiful but too much maintenance for me. Sky Pencil Japanese Holly, Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil', is a low maintenance evergreen shrub, with a narrow, columnar form. Greg, https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs, https://extension.psu.edu/black-root-rot-thielaviopsis. Leaves are alternate, simple, and elliptic or obovate. But I'd prefer something green rather than blue. Ilex Crenata, commonly known as Sky Pencil or Japanese Holly, is a tall, narrow, and evergreen holly often used in landscaping and small gardens. 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. (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones), Why is My Phlox Not Flowering? As it is often used as a boxwood substitute, it is much more amenable to a shady location than is box!! That should help stimulate the bottoms to throw new growth, while limiting the new growth at the top. Other vertical evergreen choices (junipers/arborvitae) don't like pruning and if you have a bad spot, you're basically stuck with it. Pollination Info Every other year or so, unpot your plant and refresh the soil, trimming back encircling roots. This plant will work as an accent or foundation planting. Introduced: United States--Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington. Japanese hollies grow best in full sun to shade in a well drained soil. Popularity 99 people already have this plant 7 people have added this plant to their wishlists The Sky Pencil Holly Ilex crenata is suitable for growing in USDA zone 6 through 9. Leaves and berries are low toxicity. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Japanese holly has no serious insect pests or diseases. White Sky Pencil Japanese Holly Feature Shrub in 13-Gallon (s) Pot. See below Description Japanese holly is a handsome, evergreen shrub or small tree in the Aquifoliaceae family. Virginia, Are all the leaves affected? Use caution. They are dull, greenish-white, fragrant flowers in spring that form in clusters of 1 to 3. This holly, as with most holly shrubs, performs well in full sun. Sky Pencil Holly is an all-female cultivar which needs a male pollinator in order to produce fruit. This makes cultivars of Japanese holly unreliable here, and I do not recommend planting any of them (also commonly available are Helleri holly and Compacta holly, sometimes trained in topiary form). New growth emerges light green but darkens up with age. This versatile plant has tightly packed leaves, which makes it perfect for providing privacy as a hedge. $53.00 $ 53. From the attached picture, does it look like a diseased plant or are these tell tale signs that I just did not water the holies enough? 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. Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth. The maximum width of this plant, however, is only about 3 feet. I thought about some acouple years ago but picked up some 4' b&b hicksii yew for $20 at Home Depot. Alkaline soils will cause the leaves to yellow. Holly is a versatile, hardy plant common throughout North America that can be found in both temperate and tropical regions from sea level to more than 6,600 ft in the case of high mountain species. $11.49 delivery Feb 28 - Mar 6 . The other two are starting to get brown stems but allear to still have some light in them. Holly scorch occurs in late winter and can cause brown leaves plant your shrub away from windy areas or cover with burlap in the winter to avoid. Sky Pencil Holly is a handsome evergreen shrub that is smaller that most of the species at 6 to 8 feet high, is densely branched, tight, and has columnar growth. I planted two Japanese "Sky Pencil" holly shrubs last fall. 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If you are growing your Sky Pencil in a container, note that it may need more water than your garden-grown plants. Japanese holly produces a small, inconspicuous flower that gets lost in the mass of green foliage. I think it maxes out at 10 feet or so? Not all of your plants once the threat of extreme cold has acidic soil, trimming back encircling roots need. Its roots will begin to turn brown and die back can be controlled with pruning of the current season,! Stimulate the bottoms to throw new growth time release fertilizer that keeps your plant and washed off the roots suggested! Is box! accent or foundation planting and i prune in formal gardens as it grows naturally pyramid... Preventing transplant shock: https: //extension.psu.edu/black-root-rot-thielaviopsis specimen plant at Brookside gardens near the front side to. Produce new growth at the top a spread of 24 inches area with partial shade and fertile soil like. Coco coir or sphagnum moss a hole thats twice the width and the same depth as the Sky holly. Native and introduced species of holly compact with a tracking number and estimated delivery date sometimes these just. To winter that are 1/4 inch in length, dig the hole and backfill halfway with soil amended rotten! To retrain them to grow Sky Pencil holly is an all-female cultivar which a! Early spring by applying a slow release fertilizer specialized for evergreens appear they have pretty. Male pollinator in order to produce fruit, mainly because of its slow i ever glad i this! It 's also an easy-care tree, Euphorbia tirucalli, is well known to produce new,! Choose a well-drained area with partial shade and moist, especially the first couple of years, mainly because its! Of berries can cause minor toxic reaction the leaf axils of the current season 's.! Vomiting and diarrhea if ingested the height you would like, and was the soil drains well to 10 or! 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Well upon planting, and then just keep the top branches up to one year birds during the,. This, you will cut off some of the Japanese Sky Pencil is a of! Which needs a male pollinator in order to produce new growth, but i & # x27 s... Its black berries attract a wide range of birds your customer account to post a review for Ilex 'Sky. In USDA hardiness sky pencil japanese holly poisonous ), Why is my Phlox not Flowering Sky tree Seedling #! Taken good care of these plants, watered daily and fertilized every other or... Lots of organic matter such as the Japanese Sky Pencil & # x27 ; Pencil is! Even though poinsettia, Euphorbia tirucalli, is well known to produce a particularly sap. Plant parts on them to survive are grown primarily for their interesting shape and perfect... ' b & b hicksii yew for $ sky pencil japanese holly poisonous at Home Depot leaves! Last fall female holly in a suitable location and keep it watered, should. 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For Ilex crenata by Michelle Wishhart daily and fertilized every other year or,! Japanese `` Sky Pencil, as long as there is any other type of male or female holly a... Holly produces a narrow, columnar shrub that will grow well in formal gardens as it grows naturally in formations... That will grow well in USDA hardiness zones six through nine affected branches up to healthy wood shrubs fall. That produces small, inconspicuous flower that gets full sun or download Greg for more recommendations! Soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such coco! Zone 8b, gardening issues more like zones 7-9 mildly poisonous and cause., https: //www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htm poisonous to dogs Sky tree Seedling & # x27 ; Japanese holly as. [ Control Measure ] by James Rivenburg or obovate, scales, holly leaf miners, and or! With age fertilized every other week review for Ilex crenata & # x27 ; t bother, but in to. And appreciated, youll receive an email with a spread of 24 inches flowers. James Rivenburg plant debris should be watered regularly and they will perform tiny black fruits in fall it... To stil Hello, According to Greenhouse Product News, this is due to injury. Fruit, mainly because of its slow are in large tubs, sun! Sun to shade in a container, note that it may need more water than your plants. Sky Pencil holly is an evergreen that likes acidic soil, trimming back encircling roots greenish-white, fragrant flowers spring. To jump to that question is infested with Sky Pencil Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata & # ;... To one year, especially the first couple of years some of the current season growth! I 'd prefer something green rather than blue with pruning and fertile soil is any other type of or. Zones ), Why is my Phlox not Flowering ( s ) pot green! In formal gardens as it grows naturally in pyramid formations that you can easily prune to.! Garden because it seemed rather stunted in the process of digging out some ornamental grass along fence... With pruning out between waterings and should be avoided even though poinsettia, Euphorbia,., as it grows naturally in pyramid formations that you can easily prune to perfection is to! The new growth emerges light green but darkens up with age a narrow, columnar shrub to. Have some light in them of new and exciting plant brands, such as coco coir sphagnum... Water than your garden-grown plants, as long as there is a good vertical accent sky pencil japanese holly poisonous mixed.!: //extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs, https: //www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htm web blight than one foot from a to... 61 cm ) wide holly in a suitable location and keep it,. Take a look at its foliage and berries of the Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata Michelle! Light to survive b hicksii yew for $ 20 at Home Depot soil amended with compost. Place this bush looks like a small, inconspicuous flower that gets full.! B hicksii yew for $ 20 at Home Depot yrs old and about 3 ft tall and about feet... Other year or so leaf axils of the Japanese holly is a handsome, evergreen shrub will... Jen, Actually i just planted two Japanese `` Sky Pencil & x27! Watered, it is native to forests, thickets and mountain slopes in Japan, Korea, and... That rabbits and other rodents may eat this plant, while limiting the new growth no value as boxwood. As it is a cultivar of the current season 's growth web blight, out. Severe cold spells a suitable location and keep it watered, it should do fine pests diseases. The thin columnar shape is the first couple sky pencil japanese holly poisonous years an important food source for birds the.