Symphyotrichum puniceum (formerly Aster puniceus), commonly known as purplestem aster, red-stalk aster, red-stemmed aster or swamp aster, is an herbaceous perennial native to eastern North America. It also has several names that are now obsolete, such as early purple aster and meadow scabish. It is one of the widest ranging plants of the genus, being present from the edges of the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast and from the Gulf coast of Texas north to southern Ungava Bay in the north of Quebec.