Tall goldenrod for birds in Virginia
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. Native to Virginia, where it feeds or shelters 122 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Solidago altissima
- Native status
- Native in Virginia
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–8a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Virginia birds supported
- 122
- Nesting birds among them
- 102
Growing conditions in Virginia
Humid subtropical in the east, cooler and snowier in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny highlands.
Warm, humid summers; House Wrens and hummingbirds breed statewide.
Virginia birds that use Tall goldenrod
Year-round residents (55)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Towhee, Northern Mockingbird, 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, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Horned Lark, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (47)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Pine Warbler, 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, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (20)
Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird
Moderate winters with periodic snow; purple finches and occasional northern finches visit feeders.
Nesting season it supports in Virginia
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 — April–June
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
Native plants to pair with Tall goldenrod in Virginia
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Tall goldenrod native to Virginia?
Yes. Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is recorded as native in Virginia. Virginia spans USDA 5b–8a.
What birds does Tall goldenrod attract in Virginia?
In Virginia, Tall goldenrod supports 122 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker.
Does Tall goldenrod help nesting birds in Virginia?
102 of those birds nest in Virginia: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–June), Carolina Chickadee (April–June).
Which winter birds use Tall goldenrod in Virginia?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird use it in Virginia during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Virginia
- 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.