‘Sky Pencil’ Japanese holly has been a staple of landscapes for years, but it has a significant drawback—namely, a proclivity to splay unpredictably with age. Red Sky™ keeps a tighter silhouette and, notably, gets lovely reddish new growth in spring as well. You can still expect black fruit in winter to add an extra level of interest.
Red Sky™ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘RutHol8’)
Zones: 6–9
Size: 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan, Korea, China, eastern Russia
Introduced by Southern Living Plant Collections
Best New Plants for 2023: Exciting Options for This Season – FineGardening