New England aster for birds in Kansas
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. Native to Kansas, where it feeds or shelters 133 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Native status
- Native in Kansas
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Kansas birds supported
- 133
- Nesting birds among them
- 109
Growing conditions in Kansas
Continental — humid tallgrass Flint Hills in the east to semi-arid shortgrass prairie in the west.
Hot summers above 95°F; western Kansas is dry, so water draws birds from far away.
Kansas birds that use New England aster
Year-round residents (52)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, 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, Canada Goose, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Horned Lark, Greater Roadrunner, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (57)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed 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, Burrowing Owl, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (24)
Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Cold, dry winters with strong wind; windbreaks and evergreens are prime roost cover.
Nesting season it supports in Kansas
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
- Carolina Chickadee — April–June
- 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
Native plants to pair with New England aster in Kansas
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is New England aster native to Kansas?
Yes. New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is recorded as native in Kansas. Kansas spans USDA 5b–7a.
What birds does New England aster attract in Kansas?
In Kansas, New England aster supports 133 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker.
Does New England aster help nesting birds in Kansas?
109 of those birds nest in Kansas: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Carolina Chickadee (April–June).
Which winter birds use New England aster in Kansas?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch use it in Kansas during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Kansas
- 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.