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Athyrium ‘Ghost’
ghost fern
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Image © Richie Steffen/Great Plant Picks
Image © Richie Steffen/Great Plant Picks |
Printer-friendly Fact Sheet
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| Outstanding Qualities |
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The delicate, lacey fronds of Athyrium ‘Ghost‘ glow pale, mint-white in the garden, creating a ghostly appearance, contrasting subtly nearby plants and brightening the shade garden. With fronds that are simultaneously arching and upright, ‘Ghost’ develops a vase-like shape, making it more suitable for more formal plantings than most ferns. ‘Ghost’ fern definitely opens up several interesting design opportunities for your garden! Its unique coloring allows it to show well against dark evergreen shrubs and perennials. Try mixing it with other ferns, hostas or hellebores. The cool foliage tones work especially well with blues, purples, pinks and white. You can use it as a single specimen or in small groups to heighten the drama. |
| Culture |
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Athyrium ‘Ghost‘ tolerates almost-full sun to bright, open shade. Keep it out of hot locations, or the foliage will burn by midsummer. It grows best in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil that is watered regularly. Ferns generally need little fertilizer once established; too much will cause the fragile fronds to fall over as they mature. The fronds can also flop if the plant gets too dry in the summer. If this happens, water the plant well and new fronds will sprout. This fern is almost completely free of insect and diseases and is trouble free once established. The fronds can be cut to the ground in the fall once they turn yellow. |
| Growing Habit |
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This deciduous fern forms a vase-shaped clump to about 2 to 3 feet tall. The fronds arch slightly but will be more rigid and upright in more sun. |
| Hardiness |
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USDA zones 5 to 8 |
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© 2009 Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden