About this cultivar: Athyrium 'Ghost' is a deciduous hybrid fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum and Athyrium filix-femina) that is noted for its upright silvery foliage. Silvery foliage is acquired from its Japanese painted fern parent and upright habit from its lady fern parent. It was discovered by the fern enthusiast Nancy Swell of Richmond, Virginia. It features a slowly spreading clump of fronds that emerge a soft whitish silver-green with an overlay of silvery hues accented by contrasting dark purple midribs, turning greener as the season goes on. Was awarded the RHS AGM in 2012. Take a look at the photos - ghost by name, ghost by nature. Let it haunt you garden! Position: Partial shade, Full shade Soil: Almost any soil - grows well in Ballyrobert! Flowers: Non-flowering, but interest January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December Other features: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM), Suitable for Container, Woodland Plant, Interesting Foliage or Fruit Hardiness: H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10°C), Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert! Habit: Clump forming, Bushy Foliage: Deciduous Height: 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 ft) Spread: 30 - 60 cm (1 - 2 ft) Time to full growth: 5 to 10 years Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, Fern Colour: Purple, green Goes well with: - About this genus: Athyrium (Lady ferns) have long been valued (case in point: the Victorian fern craze) for being an easy-to-grow and spectacular looking genus of, tough, deciduous, garden ferns. Although the Japanese painted fern, Athyrium niponicum, was only used in the garden relatively recently it is now the most popular species. The sheer volume of named cultivars of Athyrium for sale is incredible. Despite the popularity of the genus Athyrium most gardeners have never grown more than a fraction of the 80-plus species As mentioned, Athyrium niponicum is also extremely popular and was selected as the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year. Many wonderful cultivars are around because of the diversity of the foliage colour. As you can imagine by their popularity, most members of the genus Athyrium are quite easy to grow in a wide variety of garden conditions. Despite a reputation as shade-only plants many Athyrium will do well in sun as long as there is enough moisture to stop them drying out (think: they are often grown and displayed in hot, humid, sunny, glass houses aren't they!!!?)
