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Symphyotrichum carolinianum
Climbing Aster
Carolina Aster
Synonym(s): Ampelaster carolinianus, Aster carolinianus
Florida native
Common vine-like plant of swamps, riverbanks, wet hammocks and other wet areas from the central panhandle throughout much of the Florida peninsula. Also ranges through the coastal plain of Georgia and the Carolinas.
This perennial, robust, woody vine is frequently found sprawling over other plants. Stems grow to over 1-1/2 meters (5 ft.) with many arching or climbing branches. The ray florets are purplish to pinkish and the disks are dark yellow. Flowers may be solitary or clumped. Leaves are elliptic to lanceolate, longer than 3cm (1-1/8 in.), with auriculate-clasping bases and acuminate tips.
Formerly in the Aster genus, climbing aster has been reclassified in the genus Symphyotrichum. Some sources consider it as the single known species of the genus Ampelaster.
Symphyotrichum carolinianum is a member of the Asteraceae - Aster family.
Other species of the Symphyotrichum genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Symphyotrichum concolor - EASTERN SILVER ASTER
Symphyotrichum elliottii - ELLIOTT'S ASTER
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum - CALICO ASTER
Symphyotrichum simmondsii - SIMMONDS' ASTER
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Sep 21, 2020
