ExplorePlants

White Sweetclover

Melilotus albus

White Sweetclover is a lovely plant with tall, green stems and white flowers. It grows in fields and along roadsides, making the world a little prettier!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The White Sweetclover is a tall, upright plant with slender stems reaching several feet high. It has small, numerous white, pea-like flowers densely packed in long, narrow clusters. Its leaves are divided into three small leaflets.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusMelilotus
White Sweetclover
flowering trait badgenitrogen_fixing trait badgebiennial trait badgefragrant_flower trait badge
White Sweetclover

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Ancient people sometimes used sweetclover to help soothe aches and pains.

Its name "Sweetclover" comes from its sweet scent, especially when dried!

This plant helps keep soil from washing away with its strong roots.

You might find it growing even in tough places like roadsides and old fields!

Special abilities

Ability

Soil Supercharger

White Sweetclover can add nitrogen to the soil, helping other plants grow stronger and boosting soil health.

Ability

Deep Drinker

White Sweetclover has a long taproot that can reach deep into the soil for water during dry spells.

Ability

Sweet Scent Beacon

White Sweetclover emits a sweet, honey-like fragrance that guides pollinators to its tiny flowers.

Measurements & details

Height
50-250 cm
Spread
30-100 cm
Flower Size
0.3-0.5 cm
Bloom Season
Summer to fall
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Biennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and pollen from flowers.

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Bombus impatiens

An important native pollinator.

symbiotic with

Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria

Rhizobium leguminosarum

Lives in root nodules, converts nitrogen.

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Browses on leaves and stems.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is White Sweetclover?

50-250 cm

How wide does White Sweetclover spread?

30-100 cm

How big are the flowers on White Sweetclover?

0.3-0.5 cm

When does White Sweetclover bloom?

Summer to fall

Is White Sweetclover edible?

Yes

Is White Sweetclover toxic?

Mild

What is White Sweetclover's lifecycle?

Biennial

How is White Sweetclover pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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