The Space-Saving Shrub That Thrives In Tight Spaces (And Stays Green All Year Round)

Every gardener wishes they had space for a perfect garden that allowed them the room to experiment and grow their favorite plants all the time. However, more often than not, you find yourself stuck with a small yard, with tight nooks and corners where you can't grow much, and crevices along walkaways that are better hidden than exposed. You probably end up searching for better alternatives to consider, to help you make the most of those tight spaces. But there is a way to solve your problem. If you're struggling due to a lack of space, there is one astounding plant variety that was kind of born to thrive in such scenarios. We're talking about 'Sky Pencil' hollies (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'). If the name gives you an impression of them standing erect, like a giant pencil inserted in the soil, well, these amazing plants do exactly that. Plus, covering a maximum of two to three feet at ground level, these evergreen beauties are perfect for your narrow walkaway space, as well as any other tight areas around the house.

The 'Sky Pencil' holly is an evergreen shrub that is extremely popular for its fastigiate, columnar growth. But more than just filling in unwanted spaces, this plant is also aesthetically pleasing because of its smooth, soft foliage that differentiates it from other spiny-leaved species in its genus. In fact, the entire genus owes its name to the evergreen foliage of its shrubs, because of its similarities to holm oak leaves (Quercus ilex). 'Sky Pencil' hollies are phenomenal for urban spaces because of their ability to grow in compacted soils as well as tolerate pollution. If you're trying to make the most out of a small backyard, you would be missing out if you didn't plant these hollies.

When you only have a couple of feet to work with, it is generally a good idea to grow upright perennials or shrubs with a columnar growth habit. 'Sky Pencil' hollies especially fit this situation, since they grow taller rather than wider (even though they may be a little slow to display this growth). Nonetheless, these upright plants will add a vertical accent to your garden and break the monotony of boring horizontal lines. They can grow as tall as 10 feet without "getting out of their lane" to bother other plants. Sky pencil hollies don't require a lot of maintenance either. You don't need to prune them regularly. Their leaves grow along their narrow, upright stems and take care of themselves. These features make 'Sky Pencil' hollies way better alternatives to trees that can easily outgrow a small yard.

'Sky Pencil' hollies are also good for cramped spaces because of their moderate sunlight requirements. Although they can grow in full sun, they can also adapt to places with partial shade that receive direct sunlight only for two to six hours. So, if you thought growing a plant along a particular angle of your retaining wall was not feasible due to lack of sun, 'Sky Pencil' hollies have got you covered.

'Sky Pencil' hollies show off their dark green, glossy foliage all year round. In fact, since they resemble boxwood with their broad-leaved foliage, they are also fantastic to grow as hedges, and just like other low-maintenance hedges you can plant in your yard, they're not going to need too much trimming. You can grow a cluster of them together around areas like air-conditioning units or garbage containers to act as privacy screens. 'Sky Pencil' hollies are also great for planting at formal entryways or at either side of the front door or windows. However, you will have to protect them from cold winds during winter. You can use a windbreak for this purpose. You should also mulch the roots to protect them from the cold.

These plants are hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8. Once they grow to their full potential, they also become drought-tolerant. Keep them away from humid and hot locations, and when spring arrives, these shrubs will grow fragrant, small flowers. These flowers can produce berries if pollinated by a male cultivar. Keep in mind that these shrubs are also mildly toxic, so you do need to keep them away from curious kids and pets.