Athyrium 'Ghost'

RHS Plant Profile

lady fern 'Ghost'

RHS

Synonyms

Athyrium filix-femina 'Ghost'
Athyrium niponicum 'Grey Ghost'

Ferns

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An upright, clump-forming fern growing to 90cm tall. In spring, the emerging new fronds, held up by purple stems, are a whitish colour darkening to silver-green with purple midribs

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Woodsiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Athyrium are deciduous ferns with erect or creeping rhizomes bearing usually pinnate to tripinnate fronds, often of thin texture, and they are especially shade-tolerant
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist, neutral to acid soil enriched with leaf mould or garden compost, in a shady, sheltered site

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free outdoors

Diseases

Generally disease-free outdoors