Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Yes, I'd like your 2 ¢, 0 by critterologist

critterologist wrote:
Lady, if you're coming to the Sept. 8 plant swap, you can see a trio of 'Sky Pencil' hollies in person. They do need a little winter protection (like a good spraying with WiltPruf to protect them from cold winter winds)... If I had it to do over, I might plant a columnar Barberry instead (I don't think I knew about them when we put these hollies in several years ago). Barberry is tougher, and it would give you a nice burgundy accent color in the foliage. I think this is the cultivar I was thinking of, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/72858/

Hmm, I do see several notes in PF that Japanese Barberry can be very invasive, so that might be something to consider also, especially if you have nearby woods it could "escape" to.

Here's a shot of Penstemon smallii, with a 'Skypencil' holly behind it.