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Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure: Partial to Full Shade
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time: N/A
Foliage: Grown for foliage Herbaceous Silver/Gray
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
On Jun 4, 2007, gregr18 from Bridgewater, MA (Zone 6b) wrote:
By growing these ferns in the sun, I've managed to keep their color a very light silvery/green. When in the shade, they seem to glow and attract a lot of admirers. They pair nicely with a False Solomon's Seal that usually grows into them, but is a bit stunted for some reason this year.
On May 18, 2007, Snowrose from Frederick, MD (Zone 6b) wrote:
"Ghost Fern" is a garden hybrid of two deciduous ferns, the popular Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum var 'Pictum'), crossed with a Lady Fern (A. filix-femina). The breeder was Nancy Swell of Virginia.
Its upright triangular fronds have bluish to maroon midribs. The overall appearance is of such a light silvery grey-green that naming it 'Ghost Fern' was inspired. The silveriness is most stunning with new spring growth, hardening to blue-green in summer.
It has such a thick rhizome system that once established it can tolerate a surprising degree of dryness, though it cannot abid much sunlight, & moist well-draining soil is best especially when it is getting started.
As a sterile hybrid, it does not produce spoors but is easily propogated by division in spring. Like the Japanese Painted Fern itself, the Ghost Fern can spread to several feet after many years, & will eventually need to be dug up & divided unless there's plenty of room for it to take over.
At one to two to feet height, it is a good choice for beneath tall woody shrubs, & mixes well with large hostas. It is best planted with something with dark green leaves to heighten the impact of its ghostly paleness.
Though it will grow well in fairly deep shade, it has its best color with a touch of dappled sun.
On Apr 21, 2004, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:
A hybrid fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum x Athyrium filix-femina) noted for its silvery foliage set off by maroon or burgundy midribs. Coloration may fade to gray/green with the onset of high summer temperatures.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Juneau, Alaska Grand Junction, Colorado Yulee, Florida Cumming, Georgia Marietta, Georgia Washington, Illinois Greenville, Indiana Bridgewater, Massachusetts Salem, Massachusetts Alpena, Michigan Fenton, Michigan Saint Paul, Minnesota Mahopac, New York Elizabeth City, North Carolina Morehead City, North Carolina Glouster, Ohio Richfield, Ohio Norristown, Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania Conway, South Carolina Knoxville, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Mount Juliet, Tennessee Langley, Washington
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