FNPS Plant Database

Symphyotrichum carolinianum

climbing aster
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

climbing aster

Synonym(s):

Aster carolinianus

Genus species:

Symphyotrichum carolinianum

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Vine

Size:

to 10 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink, purple, lavender

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Blooms from late summer well into fall, through the winter in south Florida

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use as a sprawling vine in wet areas. Works well as a stand-alone border along the edges of retention ponds.

Considerations:

Its sprawling or climbing habit make it best for an informal or naturalized setting.

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Stays wet -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Flowers draw a myriad of native bees, including polyester, sweat, cuckoo, leafcutter, mining, bumble and chimney bees. Butterflies and moths also love them: Monarchs, Pearl crescents, skippers, fritillaries, Common buckeyes, Gray hairstreaks, swallowtails and sulphurs have been known to frequent the flowers for nectar. (Florida Wildflower Foundation blog).

Native Habitats:

Marshes, swamps, lake edges, river banks, coastal hammocks, floodplains

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Florida Wildflower Foundation. (2024). Flower Friday: Climbing Aster. ( https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-ampelaster-carolinianus/ ). Accessed 2026. Florida Wildflower Foundation, Maitland, FL.


Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


Hammer, Roger. (2015). Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Matrazzo, Stacey, and Nancy Bissett. (2020). Native Plants for Florida Gardens. Pineapple Press, West Palm Beach, FL.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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