Ilex crenata 'Farrowone' SKY POINTER
Common Name: Japanese holly
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Zone: 6 to 8
Garden Location: Cornelia Sunnen Backyard Garden
Height: 4 to 5 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: 
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Air Pollution
Uses: Hedge

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium moisture well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, including clay soils and urban pollution. Prefers light, moist, acidic soils with good drainage. Chlorosis (leaf yellowing) may occur in alkaline soils. Japanese hollies are dioecious (separate male and female plants).

Noteworthy Characteristics

Ilex crenata, commonly known as Japanese holly, is an evergreen shrub (rarely a small tree) that typically grows to 5-10’ tall and produces ovate to elliptic, crenate, glossy green leaves. It is native to Japan, Russia and Korea. SKY POINTER is a narrow fastigiate cultivar that originated in a controlled environment in 1999 from an open pollination of Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' (female or seed parent) with an unidentified selection of Ilex crenata (male or pollen parent). SKY POINTER typically matures over time to 4-5' tall and to 3-4' wide. It is noted for having an upright and narrowly pyramidal form, free branching habit and glossy dark green leaves that are relatively flat. Leaf margins are slightly serrulate. It differs from its female parent ('Sky Pencil') by having a narrow pyramidal rather than narrow columnar form, by being more vigorous and by having flatter leaves that are darker green. Flowering and fruiting have not been observed. 'Farrowone' is primarily sold in commerce today under its trade name of SKY POINTER. U. S. Plant Patent PP20,049 was issued on June 2, 2009.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Spider mites can be troublesome. Nematodes are a problem in the South.

Garden Uses

Rock garden. Small hedge. Incorporate into a foundation planting.