Similar in general appearance to the classic ‘Sky Pencil’, Red Sky is an upright and narrow Japanese holly. Red Sky's new leaves show a rich purplish-red coloration before they darken to the expected deep green. This new selection also has a slightly curved silhouette, while the older ‘Sky Pencil’ grows with stick-straight stems. The shape of Red Sky makes it less likely to splay open. It is also quicker to gain size, and it resists the spider mites and root rot that have come to trouble ‘Sky Pencil’ in the South.
Common name: Red Sky Japanese holly
Botanical name: Ilex crenata ‘RutHol8’
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Flowers/fruit: Both are inconspicuous. Unlike red-berried hollies, this species is grown only for its foliage and form.
Foliage: The evergreen foliage has the size and shape of a fingernail, roughly. New leaves emerge purple-red and then darken to forest green.
Size and habit: This holly grows in a columnar shape to eight feet tall and three feet wide.
Origin: The species Ilex crenata is native to northern Asia and eastern Russia, where it typically grows as a large, rounded shrub of woodlands and mountain slopes. The cultivar Red Sky ('RutHol8') was developed at the University of Georgia and introduced to the gardening market in 2024 under the Southern Living Plant Collection brand.
How to grow it: Like other Japanese hollies, Ilex crenata Red Sky takes full sun to part shade and well-drained soil of average fertility. It performs best in neutral to acidic conditions; alkaline soil can cause yellowing of the leaves. Be sure it receives regular, deep watering while it is getting established in the garden and especially heading toward winter. Established Japanese hollies can resist some short stints of drought, but they remain most healthy with consistent water. USDA Zones 6–9.
Image courtesy of Southern Living Plant Collection
