Tall goldenrod for birds in California
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. Native to California, where it feeds or shelters 122 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Solidago altissima
- Native status
- Native in California
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- California birds supported
- 122
- Nesting birds among them
- 119
Growing conditions in California
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
California birds that use Tall goldenrod
Year-round residents (91)
Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch, Purple Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Pine Siskin, Northern Mockingbird, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Sparrow, European Starling, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Oak Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Western Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Hooded Oriole, Black-throated Sparrow, California Thrasher, Yellow-billed Magpie, Western Screech-Owl, Hooded Merganser, Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermilion Flycatcher, Canada Goose, American Coot, Killdeer, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (28)
Purple Martin, Chipping Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Mountain Bluebird, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, White-winged Dove, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (3)
Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.
Nesting season it supports in California
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Tall goldenrod:
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Downy Woodpecker — March–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- American Goldfinch — June–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- House Wren — April–August
- House Finch — March–August
- Purple Finch — April–July
- Mourning Dove — February–September
- American Robin — March–July
Native plants to pair with Tall goldenrod in California
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Tall goldenrod native to California?
Yes. Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is recorded as native in California. California spans USDA 5a–11a.
What birds does Tall goldenrod attract in California?
In California, Tall goldenrod supports 122 backyard birds, including Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Tall goldenrod help nesting birds in California?
119 of those birds nest in California: Purple Martin (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (March–June), Hairy Woodpecker (March–June), American Goldfinch (June–September).
Which winter birds use Tall goldenrod in California?
Winter visitors Golden-crowned Sparrow, Merlin, Lapland Longspur use it in California during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- 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.