Butterflay

Family: Amaranthaceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Silky, butter-soft leaves unfurl with a luminous, fresh-green sheen—Butterflay Flat Leaf Spinach is prized for its tender texture and mild, sweet flavor.

The flat, broad foliage forms an inviting rosette that stays pleasantly delicate at harvest, ideal for gardeners who want reliable, clean greens at about 45 days. Grow Butterflay for vibrant salads, quick sautés, and smooth blends, or for freezing and preserving when you want that just-picked taste on demand.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Butterflay Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 16th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 3rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jun 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	May 25th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 16th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 7th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Mar 26th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Butterflay’s tender, flat leaves collapse fast, so it likes heat just long enough to go glossy, not stew. Its mild sweetness plays especially well with bright acid and salty dairy, and it blends cleanly without that fibrous, gritty aftermath.

Best Uses

short sauté with garlic and a squeeze of lemon
tossing into dressed salads while the leaves stay silky
blanch-then-freeze for smoothies or quick reheats
blending into silky sauces (think creamy-green base without grit)

Flavor Profile

mild, sweet spinach savor butter-soft, tender leaves clean, faintly nutty green note

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon olive oil parmesan Greek yogurt eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

Butterfly (butterflay) plants: how do I manage aphids if they show up on new growth?

Check the undersides of young leaves and tips of new stems for clusters of green/black aphids, usually around weeks 2–4 when growth is fastest. Blast them off with a strong stream of water, then spray insecticidal soap in the evening and repeat every 4–7 days until the leaves stop curling and new growth stays clean. Avoid heavy nitrogen after infestations since it encourages more tender growth for aphids to feed on.

How often should I water butterfly (butterflay) during the main growing phase (weeks 2–6)?

Keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy: water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry to the touch. During weeks 2–6, this typically means about 1–2 deep waterings per week depending on heat, with extra frequency in part-sun hot spells. Make sure water penetrates at least 6 inches so the roots establish, and don’t let beds dry out completely before watering again.

How can I tell when butterfly (butterflay) is ready to harvest at about 45 days?

Harvest when plants reach full size and the leaves are firm and well-formed, with the color looking uniform across the plant (no mostly-small, pale growth). If your butterfly crop is leaf-based, pick in the morning for the best texture once leaves are mature but before new tiny shoots dominate. Avoid waiting until leaves look overly soft or begin to yellow significantly, since quality drops near and after the 45-day mark.