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Yellow Sweetclover

Yellow Sweetclover

Melilotus officinalis

perennial☀️ full sun💧 low waterZone 3aZone 9b

Yellow Sweetclover is a legume with small yellow flowers clustered on upright stems, valued as a cover crop and wildlife forage plant. It is drought-tolerant and nitrogen-fixing, making it useful for soil improvement and erosion control.

Overview

Form
Upright
Growth Rate
fast
Size
1.5–6′ tall × 1–2′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

high

Flood Tolerance

low
Zone 3aZone 9b
1471013
ColderWarmer
Zone range: Zone 3a to Zone 9b

pH Range

6.58.2
7.0
3.556.589
pH range: 6.5 to 8.2

Soil Texture

Coarse, Medium, Fine

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native Range

Mediterranean

Function & Care

biomass/mulchdynamic accumulatorerosion controlnitrogen fixerpollinator nectary
Nitrogen Fixer · Moderate

Establishment & Care

Establishment
easy
Maintenance
low
Propagation
seed

Companion Planting