These lettuces feature small, loosely formed leaf heads and a notably smooth flavor. In most ways, butterhead and buttercrunch are identical plants, though the buttercrunch variety is known to be somewhat more tolerant of heat. As far as leaf lettuce varieties go, these lettuces set the standard for melt-in-your-mouth flavor and texture. Seeds are quick to germinate, plants are slow to bolt, and the taste is sweet, mild, and complex. This is an easier or more productive plant for the beginner gardener. Butterhead lettuce takes about 45 days to mature from seed. It is normally planted in the spring, and sometimes again in the early fall for harvest in late fall or early winter. Butterhead lettuce is a low-maintenance vegetable that rewards gardeners with mature plants in two months' time.