To all my gardening friends who dream of a yard full of goldfinches, let’s make that dream come true!
I know exactly how to draw more of these creatures to your outdoor space, and I must tell you, it’s not rocket science! All you have to do is add plants that goldfinches love.
You see, these beautiful colorful birds eat insects throughout the season, but they’re more into seeds. Best of all, they’ll give the seeds to their young, so you’re doing them a huge favor.
The only piece of the puzzle left is picking the right plants to charm goldfinches. Well, with so many options, you’re spoiled for choice!
1. Zinnias Are True Magnets For Goldfinches
Our list starts with a lovely annual plant that captured the hearts of gardeners worldwide. By planting zinnias, you ensure countless seeds for goldfinches throughout the season.
Many gardeners choose to harvest zinnia seeds and store them for next year. Well, bear in mind that goldfinches will eat most of the seeds, so you can’t rely on your own zinnia seeds when the new season arrives.
Zinnias are colorful plants and there’s a huge number of varieties to choose from. But remember that these plants don’t tolerate cold, so make sure to plant zinnias at the right time, preferably when the danger of frost ends!
2. Feathered Friends Adore Colorful Cosmos
Here’s another beauty that’ll have goldfinches coming back to your yard. Cosmos are a tall plant species and can reach up to 6 feet in optimal conditions.
Their blossoms come in various hues, so you can choose from white, red, maroon, pink, and many others.
Goldfinches adore cosmos, but remember that these tall plants can’t withstand windy conditions, so you must ensure protection. I always stake my cosmos and it has proven to be the best method!
3. Sedum Is Another Great Choice
If you haven’t heard of sedum, perhaps stonecrop rings a bell! Goldfinches adore stonecrops, and I must tell you that this isn’t common for succulents.
The blooms come in red, orange, pink, and yellow and produce numerous seeds that goldfinches can enjoy all season long.
But there’s a teeny tiny problem… Finches also love munching on sedum leaves, so make sure to think about everything thoroughly before planting it in your garden.
4. Milkweed Is A Pollinator Powerhouse
If your goal is to attract pollinators, milkweed is your best bet so far! Well, goldfinches also adore milkweed for its seeds but they also use it as nesting material.
There are different milkweed varieties but what they all have in common is that they need full sun to thrive.
I also recommend ensuring well-draining soil, especially for common milkweed and showy milkweed.
5. Ragwort Is Irresistible To Goldfinches
The clusters of lovely flattened flower heads of ragwort make it very famous among gardeners. It seems that goldfinches enjoy them, too, just for other reasons!
They love munching on ragwort seeds and will have a constant food supply throughout the season.
But be careful where you plant your ragwort because it’s still a weed and you don’t want it to spread uncontrollably.
6. Dandelion Isn’t Just A Weed!
Are you trying to get rid of all dandelions from your garden? Yes, dandelion is a weed but remember that this plant has a lot to offer. For instance, it’ll make goldfinches come back to your yard over and over again.
They’ll first feed on the seeds and then move to the hairy parts of the seedheads and use them for nests.
It’s really up to you to decide if dandelions will stay a part of your garden. If you leave them, I’m sure goldfinches will appreciate it!
7. Blazing Star For A Burst Of Colors And Seeds
I adore blazing star plants for their stunning purple blossoms that are on display all summer long. It seems that goldfinches love them as well!
Of course, they’re attracted to the seeds and it’s one of their favorite snacks. The most popular varieties, marsh blazing star and rough blazing star, perform best if planted in full sun.
When it comes to the soil, the latter prefer drier conditions!
8. Marigold Has It All
I probably sound like a broken record to my fellow gardeners, but when it comes to marigolds, I’ll repeat it until they’re a part of everyone’s garden.
There are numerous benefits of marigolds and goldfinches love them, too. Pests stay away from them and pollinators adore them.
What else can you ask for from a single plant species?
9. Purple Coneflower Is A Nectar-Rich Goldfinch Favorite
Here’s another garden classic that goldfinches, and finches in general, truly adore. And I shouldn’t forget to tell you that pollinators also love purple coneflowers!
These lovely flowers perform best in zones 3 through 9 and maintaining them is a piece of cake.
Purple coneflowers are self-seeding plants, and if goldfinches leave any seeds behind, you’ll have more coneflowers for the next season!
10. Delicate Poppies Will Keep Feathered Friends Coming
Everyone in the world recognizes the vibrant red blossoms of poppies! Did you know that poppies come in other colors, too?
But no matter which variety you plant, goldfinches will definitely visit your yard. The blossoms will last until summer and then famous poppy seeds will take their place.
When selecting a location for poppies, choose a well-lit one because poppies need full sun to thrive!
11. Sneezeweed Is Another Wildflower Goldfinches Adore
Helen’s flower aka sneezeweed is another plant that’ll attract goldfinches to your outdoor space! It won’t make you sneeze but bear in mind that it’s toxic if ingested in high quantities.
Heleniums enjoy partially shaded locations and their soil should be moderately moist.
Pollen from these plants isn’t carried by the wind but rather by bugs.
12. Yellow Giant Hyssop Will Stand Tall For Visitors
And here’s one giant among our plants that attract goldfinches. Yellow giant hyssop can reach up to 6 feet and produce clusters of small yellow blooms.
It adores full sun and can tolerate both wet and dry soil types. Apart from goldfinches, butterflies will also be frequent visitors.
Best of all, yellow giant hyssop deters deer, so it’s a win-win situation!
13. Sunflower Blossoms Will Do The Trick!
Orange, red, maroon, and yellow sunflowers are a true sight to behold (yes, they do come in all these colors). But vibrant hues aren’t what goldfinches like; sunflower seeds are their favorite snack!
When purchasing sunflowers, make sure to go with varieties that actually produce seeds. Otherwise, goldfinches won’t have a reason to visit.
Sunflowers love full sun (it’s all in the name) but you also need to ensure protection if you live in windy areas.
14. Asters For Late-Season Dinner
And the last plant on our list is another self-seeder, the one and only aster. The two most common varieties are New England asters and New York asters, and I must admit, they both look incredible.
But they won’t only add a special touch of beauty to your landscape, they’ll also attract a lot of goldfinches.
If you live in warmer climates, I recommend you ensure protection during hot summer afternoons.
Are you ready to transform your yard into a goldfinch sanctuary? With these lovely plants, it’s more than possible!