Athyrium 'Ghost'
ghost fern
Hybrid of garden origin ({A. niponicum} var. {pictum} × {A. filix-femina})
Overview
Athyrium spp. 'Ghost' is a deciduous fern forming an upright vase-shaped clump 24–36 inches (60–90 cm) tall and 24–30 inches (60–75 cm) wide. The hybrid is a cross between A. niponicum var. pictum spp. and A. filix-femina and combines the silvery frond color of the painted fern parent with the taller, more upright stature of the lady fern parent. Fronds are bipinnate and 18–30 inches (45–75 cm) long, with a silvery-gray overlay on the pinnae and a pale gray-green to lavender-tinged rachis; the burgundy rachis of A. niponicum var. pictum spp. is muted to pale lavender-gray in this hybrid, producing a more uniform silvery tone across the whole frond. New fronds emerge as pale silvery croziers in spring. The plant grows from a central crown without spreading rhizomes, expanding the clump 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) per year. The taller upright habit holds fronds higher in the garden than A. niponicum var. pictum spp., which grows 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) tall. Fronds are moderately brittle and break in exposed windy sites. Limitation: the silvery frond color dulls in deep shade and scorches in full sun, fronds break in exposed windy positions, and slugs feed on emerging croziers in spring; as a hybrid, spore fertility is reduced and the plant propagates reliably only by division.
Native Range
Athyrium spp. 'Ghost' is a hybrid of garden origin, a cross between A. niponicum var. pictum spp. (native to eastern Asia) and A. filix-femina (circumboreal, native across the temperate Northern Hemisphere). The hybrid was recognized as a chance seedling in a North American nursery.Suggested Uses
Used in woodland gardens, shaded borders, and as a specimen fern at 24–30 inch (60–75 cm) spacing. Container culture is possible in pots of at least 5 gallons (19 L) in a humus-rich mix. The upright habit and silvery fronds supply a vertical line in shade plantings that the low-arching A. niponicum var. pictum spp. does not produce. Combines with dark-foliaged Heuchera spp., Ligularia spp., and solid green Hosta spp. in shade plantings where contrast with the silvery fronds is the design goal.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 3'
Width/Spread2' - 2'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Spores are produced in elongate sori covered by J-shaped indusia on the pinnule undersides from mid-summer through early fall; spore fertility is reduced in this hybrid. New fronds emerge as pale silvery croziers in spring.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
silvery-gray pinnae with a pale lavender-gray rachis; bipinnate fronds 18-30 inches (45-75 cm) longGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Site in partial shade with 2–5 hours of direct sun per day in humus-rich, consistently moist soil with a pH of 5.0–7.0. Bright filtered light or morning sun with afternoon shade holds the silvery frond color; full sun scorches the frond tissue, while deep shade reduces the silver tone. Soil moisture should remain consistent through the growing season; drought causes rapid tip browning. The 24–36 inch (60–90 cm) stature tolerates moderate wind better than the low-arching A. niponicum var. pictum spp., but sheltered sites hold the fronds without breakage. Slugs feed on emerging croziers in spring. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8.Pruning
Remove browned or damaged fronds at any point during the growing season. Cut all fronds to ground level in late fall after frost or in early spring before new croziers emerge. The clumping habit and central crown allow division with a sharp spade or knife every 4–5 years in spring.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons