Who’s Fluttering Through North Atlanta Right Now?

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.