Sky Box® Japanese Holly

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

4-5 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 8

Sky Box® Japanese Holly forms a polished evergreen column with glossy dark foliage. Ilex crenata 'Farrowone' grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in a tight pyramidal shape that stays slim. Small white spring flowers may be followed by black berries when a compatible male Japanese holly grows nearby. We love planting these in garden planters in formal entryways and at the end of the driveway.

This Proven Winners® ColorChoice® selection was formerly sold as Sky Pointer® and was renamed Sky Box® as a boxwood alternative. It is stronger growing than Sky Pencil Japanese holly, with dense upright branching and small, shiny leaves that hold through winter. Sky Box® Japanese Holly is evergreen, shade tolerant, salt tolerant, urban tolerant, and useful in formal or space-conscious designs. Plant it as a specimen, entry pair, narrow hedge, container feature, foundation accent, privacy grouping, or upright evergreen in mixed shrub borders.

Sky Box® Japanese Holly Care

Plant Sky Box® Japanese Holly in full to part sun, as direct light yields the best branching and foliage density. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil with high organic content. Slightly acidic soil is preferred, and alkaline soil may cause chlorosis, which shows as yellowing foliage.

Keep the root zone evenly moist while the shrub establishes. Mature plants tolerate short dry periods, but regular moisture keeps the foliage fuller and reduces stress in containers. Fertilize in early spring with a slow-release evergreen fertilizer or an acid-loving shrub fertilizer when soil pH runs high. Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep over the root zone to conserve moisture, leaving space around the stems.

Prune Sky Box® Japanese Holly only when a sharper outline is needed. Lightly shear or tip-prune in early to midsummer after spring growth has expanded. Remove damaged or crossing branches in late winter or early spring, and avoid heavy cuts that open the narrow form.

Sky Box® Japanese Holly Spacing

Space Sky Box® Japanese Holly 3 to 4 feet apart for a hedge, screen, or repeated upright grouping. Allow 4 to 5 feet between plants when using each shrub as a separate pyramidal accent. For containers, choose a pot at least 18 to 22 inches wide with drainage holes, and water more often during hot weather than you would for in-ground plantings.

In acidic foundation beds, plant Sky Box® Japanese Holly with camellia and pieris shrubs for layered evergreen structure and spring flowers in similar soil. Big blue liriope can cover the lower edge while staying compact beneath the upright holly form. In containers, use bacopa or nemesia around the rim for seasonal flowers that sit below the dark green foliage.

*This plant was formerly known as Sky Pointer.

Simple Plant Spacing Calculator

Planting Shape

Rectangle Circle Known Area

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Diameter (ft)

Or enter radius below

Radius (ft)

Known Area (sq ft)

Plant Spacing On-Center (in)

Pattern

Square (grid) Triangular (staggered)

Fill edge gaps (max plants)

Enter area to see results.

Visual Preview

Print / Save PDF

Powered by