Common Name: aster
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 6.00 to 10.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 5.00 feet
Bloom Time: October to January
Bloom Description: Pale lavender-pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Ground Cover, Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Drought
Culture
Best grown in evenly moist to wet, well-draining sandy loams in full sun to partial shade. Will tolerate seasonal inundation with freshwater and occasional periods of drought once established. Intolerant of inundation by brackish water or salt spray. Hardy in Zones 6-9. Prune as needed in late winter or early spring. Propagate from seed, division, or cuttings of new growth taken in spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ampelaster carolinianus, commonly known as climbing aster, is a sprawling herbaceous perennial native to marshy shorelines, stream banks, swamp edges, and moist woods in the southeastern United States from peninsular Florida north along the Atlantic coast to South Carolina (historically known and believed to be extirpated from North Carolina). Using nearby plants, shrubs, fence posts, or other structures for support, this unique aster can scramble vertically to reach 6-10' or more in height and 5' wide. Side branches grow horizontally to help anchor the slender, relatively weak stems. Lavender-pink, 1.25" wide blooms that lighten with age are borne densely at the ends of the stems from fall into winter. In frost free climates this plant may bloom year-round. The flowers are made up of narrow ray florets surrounding a central disk of yellow fertile florets that mature to purplish-brown. The blooms are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other insect pollinators. Synonymous with and formerly known as Symphyotrichum carolinianum and Aster carolinianus.
Ampelaster comes from the Greek ampelos meaning "vine" and the Latin astrum meaning "star", in reference to the growth habit of this aster species.
The specific epithet carolinianus means "of the Carolinas" in reference to part of the native range of this species.
The common name climbing aster refers to the growth habit of this species.
Problems
No major pest or disease problems of note. Increase airflow and avoid overhead irrigation to control powdery mildew.
Uses
Pond edges, lakesides, rain gardens, detention basins, moist areas of pollinator gardens. Can be grown along a fence or with a trellis for support but will also scramble through nearby shrubs. Will sprawl and form a mounding, 5' tall ground cover without support. Suitable for informal or naturalistic gardens but can be pruned to shape for more formal settings.