Butterflies to Spot in Late July & Early August
As the gardens hum with bees and the last of the summer blooms stretch toward the sun, North Atlanta enters one of its most enchanting windows: butterfly season. From neighborhood parks to backyard flower beds, late July through early August is peak time for spotting some of Georgia’s most beautiful native species.
Here’s a look at the butterflies you’re most likely to see fluttering through Cumming, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell, Duluth, and Suwanee right now.
1. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Size: Large, wingspan up to 5 inches
- Colors: Bright yellow with black “tiger” stripes; females sometimes all black
- Where to spot them: Along tree lines, butterfly bushes, zinnias, Joe-Pye weed
- Fun fact: This is Georgia’s state butterfly!
2. Common Buckeye
- Size: Medium
- Colors: Brown with eye-like blue and orange spots
- Where to spot them: Open lawns, sidewalks, short grass, sun-soaked flower beds
- Behavior: Often lands low and sunbathes with wings open
3. Gulf Fritillary
- Size: Medium-large
- Colors: Orange with silver spots on the underside
- Host plants: Passionflower vines (look for them near fences and mailbox gardens)
- Where to spot them: Urban gardens, parks, roadside plantings
4. Black Swallowtail
- Size: Large
- Colors: Black with rows of yellow spots and iridescent blue in females
- Host plants: Parsley, dill, fennel, and Queen Anne’s lace
- Garden tip: Plant herbs and you might attract their caterpillars!
5. Red-Spotted Purple
- Size: Medium-large
- Colors: Deep blue or black with red-orange spots and iridescent hints
- Where to spot them: Wooded trails, forest edges, creeks
- Lookalike alert: Sometimes confused with Pipevine Swallowtail
6. Silver-Spotted Skipper
- Size: Small-medium
- Colors: Brown with a silver dash on the hindwing
- Behavior: Rapid, jerky flight—looks more like a moth at first
- Where to spot them: Nectar plants like coneflowers and milkweed
7. Cloudless Sulphur
- Size: Medium
- Colors: Lemon-yellow and fast-moving
- Where to spot them: Sunny gardens, especially around cassia plants or lantana
- Flight style: Darting and high, often in small groups
What to Plant to Attract Them
If you’d like to turn your own backyard or balcony into a butterfly hangout, here are a few favorites currently blooming:
- Zinnias
- Coneflowers
- Milkweed (native varieties like Asclepias tuberosa)
- Lantana
- Butterfly bush (Buddleia)
- Joe-Pye weed
- Passionflower vine (especially for Gulf Fritillaries)
Don’t spray pesticides—even organic ones can harm caterpillars and eggs.
Where to See Them in the Wild
- Sawnee Mountain Preserve (Cumming): Open meadows + wooded trails
- Webb Bridge Park (Alpharetta): Pollinator beds near the tennis courts
- Autrey Mill Nature Preserve (Johns Creek): Forest trails and native gardens
- Chattahoochee Nature Center (Roswell): Butterfly garden and riverfront paths
- Suwanee Creek Greenway: Wide paths with butterfly-friendly planting zones
- Taylor Park (Duluth): Simple, quiet spot with lantana and coneflowers near benches
Final Thought
Butterflies aren’t just beautiful—they’re indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Late summer is your chance to slow down, look closely, and maybe even invite a few more into your space. Whether you’re walking a park trail, tending a backyard patch, or watching a child chase wings in the sun, now is the time to notice what’s fluttering through.
Have a butterfly photo from Suwanee or Roswell? Tag us @northatlantastar with #ButterfliesOfNAS and we’ll feature your sighting in our August nature roundup.
