FNPS Plant Database

Symphyotrichum elliottii

Elliott's aster
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Elliott's aster

Synonym(s):

Aster elliottii

Genus species:

Symphyotrichum elliottii

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Flower

Size:

to 4 ft tall by 2–3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

lavender

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Moist wildflower garden. Wetland garden. Plant in full sun and give it plenty of room and plant behind shorter plants.

Considerations:

Clonal--it aggressively sends out suckers. If grown in shady areas, it tends to fall over.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Seed, division. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full 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, Clay, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

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

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

Attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinators.

Native Habitats:

Swamps, brackish and freshwater marshes. Wet flatwoods

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Elliott's Aster [in] Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Sympelli ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, FL.


Florida Wildflower Foundation. (2024). Flower Friday: Elliott's Aster. ( https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-symphyotrichum-elliotti/ ). Accessed 2026. Florida Wildflower Foundation, Maitland, FL.


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.


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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