Tall goldenrod for birds in Oklahoma
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. Native to Oklahoma, where it feeds or shelters 145 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Solidago altissima
- Native status
- Native in Oklahoma
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Oklahoma birds supported
- 145
- Nesting birds among them
- 117
Growing conditions in Oklahoma
Humid in the forested east, semi-arid in the western plains and Panhandle.
Hot summers with strong winds; water is especially valuable in the west.
Oklahoma birds that use Tall goldenrod
Year-round residents (61)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, 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, Bushtit, Black-crested Titmouse, Canyon Towhee, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, Bewick's Wren, 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, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Greater Roadrunner, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (56)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, 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, Ash-throated 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 (28)
American Goldfinch, 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, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rusty Blackbird
Mild winters with occasional severe ice storms.
Nesting season it supports in Oklahoma
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 — April–August
- Carolina Chickadee — April–June
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
Native plants to pair with Tall goldenrod in Oklahoma
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
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 Tall goldenrod native to Oklahoma?
Yes. Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is recorded as native in Oklahoma. Oklahoma spans USDA 6a–8a.
What birds does Tall goldenrod attract in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, Tall goldenrod supports 145 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Tall goldenrod help nesting birds in Oklahoma?
117 of those birds nest in Oklahoma: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Carolina Chickadee (April–June), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Tall goldenrod in Oklahoma?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, 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, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rusty Blackbird use it in Oklahoma during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Oklahoma
- 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.