Small Melilot
Melilotus indicus
Also listed as Melilotus parviflorus, Sertula indica
Also known as Melilot, Annual Melilot, Indian Sweetclover
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Small melilot is a fast-growing annual legume with delicate yellow flower spikes and fine foliage, commonly used as a cover crop and wildlife food source. It thrives in poor, well-drained soils and requires minimal water once established.
Why grow it
Small melilot establishes more quickly than many other annual legumes, making it useful for rapid soil building and erosion control in marginal sites. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen effectively and produces abundant biomass relative to water inputs, useful where water conservation matters. Compared to larger melilot species, its fine texture allows easier incorporation into soil and reduces competition with intercropped species.
Watch out for
Self-seeds readily in warm climates, so plan for management or removal if volunteer seedlings become unwanted. Performance varies significantly by region and soil pH, with poorer establishment in very acidic soils despite stated drought tolerance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Small melilot is a fast-growing annual legume with delicate yellow flower spikes and fine foliage, commonly used as a cover crop and wildlife food source. It thrives in poor, well-drained soils and requires minimal water once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Small Melilot grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Small melilot establishes more quickly than many other annual legumes, making it useful for rapid soil building and erosion control in marginal sites. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen effectively and produces abundant biomass relative to water inputs, useful where water conservation matters. Compared to larger melilot species, its fine texture allows easier incorporation into soil and reduces competition with intercropped species.
Watch out for
Self-seeds readily in warm climates, so plan for management or removal if volunteer seedlings become unwanted. Performance varies significantly by region and soil pH, with poorer establishment in very acidic soils despite stated drought tolerance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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