Ghost Fern

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Shade

(0 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

1.5-2 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

This isn’t a Halloween plant. Ghost Fern gets its name from the silvery tips of the foliage. Ghost fern is one of the most beautiful and well-mannered ferns in the garden. It is a hybrid of Japanese painted and lady ferns. ‘Ghost’ fern is the best of both parents. Ghost fern is a slowly spreading plant that develops beautiful upright fronds highlighted with silver. The stems are dark accenting the fronds.

Like most ferns it does best in evenly moist shady soil. It is deer and rabbit resistant as well as disease and insect resistant. Since this is an upright fern it is great as a background to other shade lovers in the garden. Unlike other ferns this one won’t run rampant in your landscape.

Ghost Fern Care

Ferns are a little bit later to come up in the garden until the soil temps stay even. But once they come up, the unfurling of the fronds is a beauty to behold, much like a ballet dancer. ‘Ghost’ fern is hardy from Zone 3a-8b. Just make sure it is watered during times of drought.

Ghost Fern Spacing

Ghost fern is 2-3 ft. tall and 1 ½ ft. wide at maturity so when planting several make sure to plant them 1 ½ ft. apart. An added bonus is you can cut the fronds and use them in bouquets as well. Since ferns aren’t heavy feeders, a slow release fertilizer such as Espoma Plant Tone is ideal for keeping it happy and healthy.