Ghost Fern

Athyrium x 'Ghost'

$34⁹⁹

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Ghost Fern highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Athyrium x 'Ghost'
Growing Zones

4-8
Mature Height

24 - 30 inches
Mature Spread

18 - 24 inches
Sun Exposure

Full Shade, Partial Shade
Moisture

Moderate to High
Soil

Well Drained
Growth Rate

Medium
Pruning Time

Early Spring

Growing Zones 4-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

The gossamer fronds and lacy foliage of the Ghost Fern (Athyrium x 'Ghost') are most noted for their gorgeous foliage. Growing in upright clumps, each delicate frond sparkles with a silvery overlay.

The unique foliage color is acquired from its Japanese Painted Fern parentage. While the upright habit is inherited from the Lady Fern side of the family. The combination creates a fantastic textural interest in any shade garden!

The finely divided, double pinnate gray-green leaf, with a silver frost, adds incredible lushness and texture anywhere it is planted! Each frond unfurls beautifully and is incredibly graceful, waving gently in the breeze! The slowly spreading clump of the frond's unique coloration is contrasted by the darker maroon midribs.

The fronds become more grayish-green as summer warmer temperatures arrive. Spreading politely throughout your garden, these slowly colonize their space without overtaking or overpowering an area! Hardy to a wide USDA planting zone range of 4 to 8, these soft and silvery perennial Ferns grow about 30 inches tall and 2 feet wide.

Planting and Application:

This Fern is best used in shade gardens or shaded borders as edging. Gracefully lining walkways and paths, or framing garden beds in greenery. Use to skirt the bare stems of shrubs and trees as edging, as a finishing touch, and facer plant. Seating areas, birdbaths, outdoor sculptures, and urns become the main features with a fringe of these around their bases. However, the more you plant, the stronger the ghostly effect becomes!

Gorgeous as a single specimen container planting, or in showy groupings throughout the shade garden landscape! Create a focal point planting by clustering these in a grouping of 3 or more for a stand-out accent! The fronds will shine in the Moon Garden surrounded by other plants with silvery foliage or white blooms!

Plant en masse under large trees and woodland edges of your property. Ghost Fern sparkles in the dappled sun as an underplanting or winding around your pathways and a shaded driveway.

Its love for moisture makes it fantastic when combined in Rain Gardens, with water features, and in shady gardens near streams or ponds! Include in your moist, shady Perennial and Cottage gardens as a lush green backdrop that highlights your other shade-loving plants and perennials.

Add to your Cutting gardens for season-long access to fantastic floral arrangement greenery and filler! Plant one as an accent or specimen planting in your favorite garden urn. Or highlight the Ghost Fern on a raised berm to further set it apart!

Soft Gray-Green Fronds With A Silvery Sheen
Darker Maroon Midribs
Upright Growth With A Polite Spreading Habit
Hybrid Cross of Lady Fern & Japanese Painted Fern
Great for Edging, En Masse & Around Water Features

#ProPlantTips for Care:

These luscious easy-to-grow Ferns can gain decent height in the garden! Lending low-maintenance, tall greenery and a soothing silvery sheen that looks fantastic in the dappled shade. They also tolerate a bit more sun in cooler climates but always appreciate afternoon shade. Preferring full shade and afternoon shade in the warmer of its hardiness zones.

The Ghost Fern is easily grown in organically rich, medium to wet, well-drained soil. The best site for this plant is in a sheltered location. The Ghost Fern will tolerate more soil dryness than some other Ferns once established, but the roots must not be allowed to dry out completely.

A generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill. Divide plants in the early spring before new growth emerges. In spring before new growth begins, tidy up the mounds by removing or gently raking away any old, dead debris.

Highly deer, rabbit, pest, insect, and disease resistant, Ghost Fern is a very tolerant and resilient garden addition. Providing visual interest throughout the growing season!

Thrives In Shade & Partial Shade
Any Well-Drained Rich Soil - Tolerates Drier Soils & Wet Soils
Moderate to High Moisture
Appreciates Mulched, Rich Organic Beds
Deer & Rabbit-Resistant Easy-Care & Low-Maintenance

Enjoy the silvery fronds to highlight your dappled shade! Order the fantastic Ghost Fern for your landscape this year by ordering at NatureHills.com today!

Easy to grow

I could not find a plant that I needed by a shade tree in the back yard. Ghost fern was my answer, I am very happy with how the silvery fronds have brightened up the area. I think I will order a couple more.

Hello Donna,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with the Ghost fern! We’re delighted to hear that its silvery fronds have brought a bright, fresh touch to the shaded spot in your backyard. Ghost ferns truly make an attractive and resilient addition to areas with limited sunlight, so it’s fantastic to know it met your needs so well.

Ordering a couple more sounds like a great idea to extend that lovely glow! If you need any tips for caring for your new ferns or ideas on creative planting combinations that thrive in shade, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always here to help your garden flourish.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Shade

My blue leaved hostas needed companion plants so I ordered three Ghost ferns to mix in with them. I love the combination since the ferns have excellent upright habits and silvery-gray fronds blend in well with my hostas. So pleased, and proud with the results!

Hi Daniel,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with the Ghost ferns! We’re delighted to hear how beautifully they complement your blue-leaved hostas. The upright growth and silvery-gray fronds really do make a striking pairing, and it sounds like you’ve created a stunning garden display to be proud of.

If you ever want to further enhance that shade garden vignette, you might consider adding a few other shade-loving companions like astilbe or heuchera, which could provide extra texture and bursts of color throughout the seasons. Also, be sure to keep an eye on consistent moisture levels for both hostas and ferns, as they thrive with steady watering and rich, well-draining soil.

Thanks again, Daniel, for taking the time to write in and celebrate your gardening success with us!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Shade

Hi Daniel,

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely experience with your Ghost ferns and blue-leaved hostas! We’re thrilled to hear that the upright habit and silvery-gray fronds of the ferns complement your hostas so well—creating a cohesive and vibrant shade garden is such a rewarding feeling. Your thoughtful approach to companion planting really shines through, and we’re glad the Ferns have added that perfect touch you were looking for.

As your garden grows, you might find it helpful to keep the Ghost fern’s moisture needs in mind—they thrive best in consistently moist, well-drained soil especially in shady spots. Mulching around the base can help retain moisture and suppress weeds, making the ferns even happier beside your hostas. If you’re interested, we also have tips on pairing other shade-loving plants that thrive alongside ferns and hostas to expand your garden’s palette even more.

Thanks again for your kind feedback—it’s always a joy to hear how our plants help bring your garden vision to life!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Easy to grow

Hi Donna,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with the Ghost Fern! We’re delighted to hear that its silvery fronds have brought new light and beauty beneath your shade tree. Ferns like these are truly charming companions for those tricky shaded spots.

If you decide to add more Ghost Ferns to your garden, they’ll certainly create an even more vibrant and lush understory. Just a quick tip: keeping the soil consistently moist and enriching it with organic matter can help them thrive even more beautifully in shaded areas. And feel free to check out our care guides for ferns on NatureHills.com if you ever want some extra tips.

Thanks again for your great feedback—happy planting, and we’re here if you need any plant advice or suggestions in the future!

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Foliage color

The Ghost fern looks gorgeous in a shade garden with its silvery color.

Hello Elaine,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the Ghost Fern! We’re thrilled to hear how well its silvery foliage is enhancing your shade garden—its unique color indeed makes it a standout in low-light areas. If you ever want to keep that beautiful hue vibrant, make sure to provide consistent moisture and avoid direct sunlight too, as those can dull the foliage.

If you’re looking to complement your Ghost Fern with other shade-loving plants, feel free to explore our collection of shade perennials and annuals—they make wonderful companions that can add texture and varietal interest to your garden space.

Thanks again for your lovely feedback. Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts