Tall goldenrod for birds in North Carolina
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. Native to North Carolina, where it feeds or shelters 127 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Solidago altissima
- Native status
- Native in North Carolina
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–8b
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- North Carolina birds supported
- 127
- Nesting birds among them
- 105
Growing conditions in North Carolina
Mountains, Piedmont and coastal plain differ sharply — cool, snowy highlands to mild, humid coast.
Warm and humid in the Piedmont and coast; cooler at elevation.
North Carolina birds that use Tall goldenrod
Year-round residents (65)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Towhee, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Warbler, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, 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, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Boat-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (40)
Purple Martin, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, 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, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, American Coot, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (22)
Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Black-capped Chickadees and other northern birds are confined to the highest mountains; lowlands stay mild.
Nesting season it supports in North Carolina
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Tall goldenrod:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — March–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–June
- Carolina Chickadee — March–June
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
Native plants to pair with Tall goldenrod in North Carolina
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Frequently asked
Is Tall goldenrod native to North Carolina?
Yes. Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is recorded as native in North Carolina. North Carolina spans USDA 5b–8b.
What birds does Tall goldenrod attract in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, Tall goldenrod supports 127 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker.
Does Tall goldenrod help nesting birds in North Carolina?
105 of those birds nest in North Carolina: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–June), Carolina Chickadee (March–June).
Which winter birds use Tall goldenrod in North Carolina?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in North Carolina during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — North Carolina
- 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.