- Sky pencil holly
Botanical name: ilex crenata ‘sky pencil’
Beginner friendly?: yes
Average size at maturity: about 10 ft in height and 3 ft in width
Hardy zone: zones 6-9
Foliage color: green/blue
Growth rate: grows about 1 ft per year
Pruning instructions: trim to maintain desired shape and size as needed
Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge
Landscape use: privacy screen
Light needs: 4-6 hours of sun per day
Special features: small non-edible purple berries in the fall
Watering instructions: keep soil consistently moist but not soggy
Fertilizing instructions : use 10-6-4 in the early spring
Best time to plant: spring or fall
Best type of soil: clay
Companion plants: sedums, phlox, ajuga
Toxicity level: mildly toxic for humans and pets
Invasive species: no
![](https://beach-landscaping.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/skypencilholly-767x1024.png)