Mine were planted in January and are now dying. It's possible that they were not watered enough, but they were on the same irrigation schedule as the other shrubs, and the others are doing fine.

Is it just too hot for sky pencil hollies to survive here?

Likely too much water is what killed them.

Thanks. I'm wondering now if I should replant and try them again.

In our soil, you need to dig a hole 5x wider than the pot and fill it with a mix of top soil and compost. Plant the holly a couple of inches above the surrounding grade. Lots of Hollies die from root rot around here. Water consistently at first but don't drown it. The big hole gives better drainage and a place for the roots to grow easily. If it's in a planting bed, that's even better. Drainage is the key. Provide a way for excess water to get away from the roots. Imagine you are planting it in a larger clay pot because that's what you are doing in this area.

If replanting/replacing, wait until October. That is a good time to plant shrubs in this area.

Thanks everyone! I'll try again in the fall!

go to the Farm Patch...

Ask for Anne..

She knows everything.

Maybe Will Fleming (no berries) or Scarlet Peak (berries) as a replacement. They seem pretty hard to kill.

motherrunnersBCS said:

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Maybe Will Fleming (no berries) or Scarlet Peak (berries) as a replacement. They seem pretty hard to kill.

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I'll keep these in mind! I love the growth habit (tall and narrow) of the sky pencils, so I'm hoping to make those work.

No, they won't survive here. You will be wasting your money and time.

They look cool. I planted some a few years ago. They died.

I wonder why the guy I hired for landscaping recommended them.

I'd fire the landscaper. Clearly not suited for here. Neither our soil or water is acidic.

https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1528/sky-pencil-japanese-holly/

studioone said:

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go to the Farm Patch...

Ask for Anne..

She knows everything.

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This! Anne is phenomenal and very knowledgeable about what does and doesn't work in this area.