Speckled Butterhead

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Speckled Butterhead to a garden.

Velvety leaves unfurl in a soft, butter-smooth rosette, where pale green centers are kissed with delicate speckles that shimmer like fresh dew.

Speckled Butterhead forms a compact, tender head with a gentle crunch and a sweet, mild flavor—ideal for gardeners who want beauty as well as a satisfying leaf texture. Grow for fresh salads and elegant garnishes, or let the leaves shine in light sauces and quick pickling for a bright, garden-fresh bite.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Speckled Butterhead

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Speckled Butterhead 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	May 4th	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 18th	Jul 12th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 6th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jun 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jun 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jun 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jun 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	May 28th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	May 19th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 10th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	Apr 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Mar 29th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Speckled Butterhead’s tender, butter-smooth rosette is built for eating at the speed of freshness—thinly dressed so it stays crisp, not wet. Its mild sweetness makes it a great foil for salty cheeses and citrusy marinades, and it doesn’t fight delicate proteins.

Best Uses

torn-leaf salads with a thin vinaigrette that clings without sogginess
elegant butterhead cups for seafood or chicken—stays tender but not watery
quick pickling of the speckled leaves for a bright, snappy bite
lightly dressed sandwiches/wraps where the leaves act as a soft, edible liner

Flavor Profile

sweet, mild lettuce sweetness gentle crunch buttery, velvety leaf texture clean, lightly grassy finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon vinaigrette grapeseed oil or extra-virgin olive oil feta parmesan salmon strawberries

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease problem for Lactuca sativa (speckled butterhead) and how do I fix it?

Butterhead lettuce is prone to downy mildew (often shows as pale yellow patches on upper leaves with gray-purple growth on the underside) when nights are cool and humidity stays high. Remove and destroy the affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil surface so foliage stays dry. If it keeps spreading, switch to a fresh bed or soil and avoid replanting lettuce in the same spot for a full season to break the disease cycle.

How often should I water speckled butterhead during the main growing phase to prevent bitter or loose heads?

During active head formation (roughly weeks 4–7), keep the root zone consistently evenly moist, not soggy—aim for about 1 inch (2–3 cm) per week total, split into 2–3 waterings as needed. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, then water deeply to reach the full root bed. Irregular moisture swings can cause leaf bitterness and heads that don’t firm up well.

How can I tell when Lactuca sativa ‘speckled butterhead’ is ready to harvest at ~55 days?

Harvest when heads feel firm and leaves are full-size but still tender—typically around 55 days from sowing (or when the center is well formed and the outer leaves have reached mature spread). Look for crisp, light-to-medium green leaves without excessive stretching; if plants bolt (flower stalk starts), harvest immediately for best eating quality.