Japanese painted fern vs Ghost fern
'Ghost' is a cross between Japanese painted fern and lady fern. It takes its silver from one and its height and upright habit from the other, so it is taller and paler than the painted fern, almost white in shade, with little of the burgundy. Japanese painted fern is lower and more arching, with fronds washed in silver and burgundy. Both die down in winter, want moist shade, and stay in a clump.
 Japanese painted fernAthyrium niponicum var. pictum |  Ghost fernAthyrium 'Ghost' | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 18 in tall, 24 in wide | 2½ ft tall, 24 in wide |
| Plant | 18 in apart | 18 in apart |
| Zones | 4 to 8 | 4 to 8 |
| Light | Part shade to shade | Part shade to shade |
| Soil | Evenly moist, rich fertility | Evenly moist, rich fertility |
| Flowers | None | None |
| Leaves | Fine, herbaceous | Fine, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Drift | Drift |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | Not checked |
| Deer | Resistant | No record |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose Japanese painted fern for a smaller space (18 in against 2½ ft).
- Choose ghost fern for more height (2½ ft against 18 in).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. What ghost fern brings beside Japanese painted fern: tall enough (2½ ft) to stand behind it; happy in the same moist soil. They share part shade and shade and zones 4 to 8.
Read more: all about Japanese painted fern, and all about ghost fern, each with a bed the planner designed around it.