New England aster for birds in Iowa
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. Native to Iowa, where it feeds or shelters 119 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Native status
- Native in Iowa
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–6a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Iowa birds supported
- 119
- Nesting birds among them
- 102
Growing conditions in Iowa
Humid continental prairie state, with loess hills in the west and the Driftless Area in the northeast.
Hot, humid summers with thunderstorms.
Iowa birds that use New England aster
Year-round residents (44)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Field Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Horned Lark, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Summer breeders (58)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Gray Catbird, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (17)
Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll
Cold, windy winters; open farmland makes backyard shelter and feeders a lifeline.
Nesting season it supports in Iowa
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use New England aster:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
Native plants to pair with New England aster in Iowa
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is New England aster native to Iowa?
Yes. New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is recorded as native in Iowa. Iowa spans USDA 4b–6a.
What birds does New England aster attract in Iowa?
In Iowa, New England aster supports 119 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does New England aster help nesting birds in Iowa?
102 of those birds nest in Iowa: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use New England aster in Iowa?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll use it in Iowa during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Iowa
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.