A Surprise Zinnia Goldfinch Discovery
This year, in addition to the returning perennials and new annual plants, my wife had a pack of mixed zinnias. I think we had it left over from last year. She decided it couldn’t hurt to put them out in our baskets. It has turned out to be a pleasant zinnia goldfinch surprise! Let me tell you about it.
I’ll Just Plant a Few Seeds in Each Basket
The first surprise was how quickly they sprouted and grew. The second surprise was how huge they got very quickly. Before we knew it both of the baskets they had been planted in were small jungles! They reached at least two feet tall in a very short amount of time. The flowers were of many different colors and beautiful. Before too long we started doing regular pruning/deadheading just to keep them under control.
Not So Fast With That Pruning!
I think it might have been just a couple of days we let them grow. One day I looked out there and swear I saw some stalks moving. I looked closer and saw a goldfinch had landed on one of them and was trying to keep his balance. I thought he was just being curious and thought no more of it.
Then it started happening more and more frequently. I’d look out and see both male and female goldfinches ferreting around in the zinnia bushes. I figured they were just looking for bugs and again dismissed it.
The Conk on the Head
Finally, I started seeing goldfinches landing on the flower heads, pulling off the petals and pulling at the seeds on them. It started happening more and more. Brilliant me, I made the connection at last-LOL! Ever since then, we’ve been enjoying these antics on a regular basis.
My Advice For Your Own Zinnia Goldfinch Event
- If you can, go to your nearest garden store and pick up a small pack of zinnia seeds. That way you’ll have them ready in the spring when it’s time to plant them.
- Don’t sweat exactly when you plant them because they can be planted late and still bring you tons of enjoyment before fall sets in. We live in Tennessee but didn’t plant our seeds until June.
- If you want to prune for shape do it early.
- Once they reach two feet or more try to reduce your pruning and allow them to go to seed. This is the main reason the goldfinches are attracted to them.
- If you have to prune them remember they make beautiful indoor arrangements.
Have You Had a Zinnia Goldfinch Event This Year?
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Resources
Some other people who have had a similar experience with goldfinches and zinnias.
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We have Lesser Goldfinches in our garden (flock of about 50+) and surprising to us the love to eat the LEAVES of Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta), and Sunflowers!
What is so striking to me is that the leaf texture is quite rough…but they love it!
I have never witnessed American Goldfinches doing this.
Hi Judy,
Thank you for stopping by and sharing with us!
I had heard about many seed head flowers that goldfinches would go after. Especially sunflower. I had not had anybody tell me about their zinnias being attacked by them though-LOL! It does not surprise me that you haven’t seen American goldfinches doing this because they seem to prefer their sunflower seeds hulled-HA!
Where are you located? I see the Lesser goldfinch range seems to extend west mostly.
You’re very blessed to have 50+ of these. Have you been feeding long?
Jeff
Goldfinch gathering zinnia disk florets in august 2018
Hi Jim,
Do you have a picture of this you could email me?
Jeff
I just had 2 if the brightest yellow finches land on my single zinnia. They were so cute and I didnt want to move to snap a photo but wish I had. Been here 6 years and always have coffee outside to watch the birds… never saw that before. I will plant more zinnias next year for sure.
Donna from Connecticut shoreline.
Hi Donna,
So glad you decided to share about your zinnia goldfinch experience! I know what you mean about the photos. I had a hummingbird come and chirp at me not six inches in front of my face that would have made a GREAT shot. But at least I’ll never forget it.
I think you made a good choice not to disturb them and just watch. More people need to just be with their birds and not try to always maximize the experience. Just let nature unfold.
What else do you have in your yard on the CT shoreline?
Jeff
I have a flower garden consisting of sunflowers, cosmos and zinnia’s. The goldfinch are having a gourmet on the seeds of sunflowers and zinnia”s.. Woodpeckers and butterflies also. Really enjoying it!!
Hi Vern,
Thanks for stopping by and telling us about your neck of the woods! Where might that be anyway?
I still get a kick out of watching goldfinches pull the flower petals off so they can get to the good stuff-HA!
I’m assuming the woodpeckers are on the sunflowers?
Jeff
Hey Jeff!
I live in Shreveport, Louisiana. It’s the middle of February and we’re expecting over three inches of snow within the next twenty-four hours. The water in my birdbath is frozen at this moment, but the birds are still all around.
I love Zennias! I’ve been planting them in my front yard flower beds for a few years, making bigger beds each year. I usually clean them up at the end of blooming in November. I didn’t this time and I’m really glad. The chicadees are feasting on the dead heads! I wasn’t sure at first if that’s what they were after , until I saw one land on one and pull at the seeds.
That’s what brought me to your site. I Google everything and wanted to know for sure if that’s what they’re doing.
Just wanted to thank you for your post. From now on I will take what seeds I need and leave the rest for the birds winter meals.
Thanks!
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
So glad you found my site and that I could help! The only birds that picked through the zinnias were the goldfinches and an occasional chickadee or wren.
It’s amazing how helpful doing nothing can be for wildlife! We humans fuss and fret about trying to have the perfect lawn or sanctuary. The birds just want something good to eat somewhere they feel safe eating it.
Sounds like you’ve provided both and should be praised for caring enough to provide for them!
Jeff