Athyrium hybrid 'Ghost' - FERN 'GHOST'
Hybrid of native Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) and Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum').
It inherited the upright habit and better drought tolerance from the native fern and silvery leaves with maroon midribs from the Asian parent.
Best in light shade or dappled shade, where the silver color is the most pronounced.
Fades to gray-green with summer heat.
Blooming Time: doesn't bloom
Size: usually 24-30" tall x 18-24" wide
USDA Zones: 3 to 8
Culture: half shade (in cooler areas), light shade to dappled shade (expect less coloration in deep shade). Average garden with some organic matter, medium moist to moist. Prefers neutral or slightly acidic soils.
Moisture Needs: medium, medium-moist, more tolerant to less moisture than Japanese Painted Fern, but ideally the soil still shouldn't dry out
Origin: garden origin - chance sporling found in Nancy Swell's garden (Richmond, Virginia)
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes / yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: flowers attract some bees (usually blooms too early for butterflies)
Attracts Hummingbirds: no
Plant combinations: Plant in woodland edge gardens, woodland gardens, shade gardens. Good companions are Aquilegia, Asarum, Brunnera, Dicentra, Disporum, Epimedium, Helleborus, Hepatica, Heuchera, Hosta, Lathrus vernus, Omphalodes, Polygonatum, Uvularia and spring ephemerals like Jeffersonia, Mertensia, Sanguinaria,Trillium, etc. Grasses like Carex, Hakonecloa.
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" deep perennial pot
Athyrium hybrid 'Ghost' - FERN 'GHOST'
Hybrid of native Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) and Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum').
It inherited the upright habit and better drought tolerance from the native fern and silvery leaves with maroon midribs from the Asian parent.
Best in light shade or dappled shade, where the silver color is the most pronounced.
Fades to gray-green with summer heat.
Blooming Time: doesn't bloom
Size: usually 24-30" tall x 18-24" wide
USDA Zones: 3 to 8
Culture: half shade (in cooler areas), light shade to dappled shade (expect less coloration in deep shade). Average garden with some organic matter, medium moist to moist. Prefers neutral or slightly acidic soils.
Moisture Needs: medium, medium-moist, more tolerant to less moisture than Japanese Painted Fern, but ideally the soil still shouldn't dry out
Origin: garden origin - chance sporling found in Nancy Swell's garden (Richmond, Virginia)
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes / yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: flowers attract some bees (usually blooms too early for butterflies)
Attracts Hummingbirds: no
Plant combinations: Plant in woodland edge gardens, woodland gardens, shade gardens. Good companions are Aquilegia, Asarum, Brunnera, Dicentra, Disporum, Epimedium, Helleborus, Hepatica, Heuchera, Hosta, Lathrus vernus, Omphalodes, Polygonatum, Uvularia and spring ephemerals like Jeffersonia, Mertensia, Sanguinaria,Trillium, etc. Grasses like Carex, Hakonecloa.
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" deep perennial pot
Customer Reviews
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Beautiful healthy plant
Like every plant I've ordered from US Perennials, this one arrived healthy and undamaged. She adjusted very well to transplanting and began growing vigorously at once. She's a gorgeous color contrast in my shade garden. I wasn't sure how different 'Ghost' would look from my other lady ferns and painted ferns, but this is definitely a unique cultivar that stands out.