New England aster for birds in Nova Scotia
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. Native to Nova Scotia, where it feeds or shelters 97 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Native status
- Native in Nova Scotia
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 5a–7a (roughly USDA 4–6 equivalent)
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Nova Scotia birds supported
- 97
- Nesting birds among them
- 92
Growing conditions in Nova Scotia
Maritime — cool summers, snowy but ocean-moderated winters, fog and wind along the coast.
Cool summers delay nesting compared with inland regions at similar latitude.
Nova Scotia birds that use New England aster
Year-round residents (33)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, House Sparrow, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (59)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (5)
Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
Damp cold and wind chill; sheltered feeding stations and suet help small birds through storms.
Nesting season it supports in Nova Scotia
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 — May–August
- Eastern Bluebird — May–July
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–July
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — June–August
- House Finch — May–August
Native plants to pair with New England aster in Nova Scotia
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is New England aster native to Nova Scotia?
Yes. New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is recorded as native in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia spans Canadian zones 5a–7a (roughly USDA 4–6 equivalent).
What birds does New England aster attract in Nova Scotia?
In Nova Scotia, New England aster supports 97 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does New England aster help nesting birds in Nova Scotia?
92 of those birds nest in Nova Scotia: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–July), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July).
Which winter birds use New England aster in Nova Scotia?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll use it in Nova Scotia during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nova Scotia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas
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.