Tall goldenrod for birds in Texas
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. Native to Texas, where it feeds or shelters 159 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Solidago altissima
- Native status
- Native in Texas
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6b–10a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Texas birds supported
- 159
- Nesting birds among them
- 121
Growing conditions in Texas
Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.
Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.
Texas birds that use Tall goldenrod
Year-round residents (89)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, 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, Bushtit, Black-crested Titmouse, Lesser Goldfinch, Canyon Towhee, Gambel's Quail, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Pyrrhuloxia, Bewick's Wren, Eurasian Collared-Dove, White-winged Dove, Inca Dove, American Crow, 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, Black-throated Sparrow, Green Jay, Western Screech-Owl, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vireo, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Canada Goose, American Coot, Killdeer, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon, Monk Parakeet
Summer breeders (32)
Purple Martin, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Hooded Oriole, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Spotted Sandpiper, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Varied Bunting, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (38)
American Goldfinch, House Wren, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Green-tailed Towhee, Hooded Merganser, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, American Woodcock, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Hard freezes are brief outside the Panhandle, so most feeder birds face heat and drought stress more than cold.
Nesting season it supports in Texas
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 — March–September
- Eastern Bluebird — March–July
- Carolina Chickadee — March–June
- Purple Martin — March–July
- Downy Woodpecker — March–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- Tufted Titmouse — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- House Finch — March–August
- Carolina Wren — March–August
Native plants to pair with Tall goldenrod in Texas
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Tall goldenrod native to Texas?
Yes. Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is recorded as native in Texas. Texas spans USDA 6b–10a.
What birds does Tall goldenrod attract in Texas?
In Texas, Tall goldenrod supports 159 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Tall goldenrod help nesting birds in Texas?
121 of those birds nest in Texas: Northern Cardinal (March–September), Eastern Bluebird (March–July), Carolina Chickadee (March–June), Purple Martin (March–July).
Which winter birds use Tall goldenrod in Texas?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, House Wren, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Green-tailed Towhee, Hooded Merganser, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, American Woodcock, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in Texas during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Texas
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Texas Breeding Bird Atlas — Texas A&M
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.