Athyrium 'Ghost' is an elegant hybrid Japanese Painted Fern known for its upright habit and striking silvery-green fronds with deep purple to maroon stems. This deciduous perennial brightens shady garden areas with its luminous foliage, providing contrast in woodland gardens.
A cross between the Japanese Painted Fern and Lady Fern, Ghost Fern offers vigorous growth and graceful texture. It thrives in moist, shady locations and suits woodland gardens, borders, containers, and mass plantings.
Key Features
- Life Cycle: Deciduous Perennial Fern
- Botanical Name: Athyrium x 'Ghost'
- Foliage Color: Silver Green with Purple Midribs
- Growth Habit: Upright, Arching Vase Shape
- Plant Height: 24–36 inches
- Bloom Season: Non-flowering fern
- Light Requirements: Partial Shade to Full Shade
- Water Needs: Medium; prefers consistently moist soil
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3–8
- Characteristics: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Dramatic Foliage, Low Maintenance
Uses
- Woodland gardens
- Shade borders
- Groundcover plantings
- Moist garden areas
- Erosion control
- Container gardens
- Cut foliage arrangements
Planting Partners
- Hosta
- Heuchera
- Astilbe
- Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
- Epimedium
Care Tips
- Plant in rich, organically amended, well-drained soil.
- Keep soil evenly moist, especially during hot weather.
- Prefers filtered shade or full shade.
- Remove old fronds in early spring before new growth emerges.
- Mulch annually with compost or leaf mold to retain moisture.