Yellow Sweetclover
ExplorePlants
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
Yellow Sweetclover is a tall plant with bright yellow flowers that smell sweet! It grows in fields and meadows, making them look sunny and cheerful.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Yellow Sweetclover is an upright plant with slender, often branching stems. It has small, bright yellow, pea-like flowers tightly clustered in long, narrow spikes at the top of its stalks. Its leaves are trifoliate, meaning they have three leaflets, resembling miniature clovers with finely toothed edges.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusMelilotus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Early pioneers sometimes used its crushed leaves to make soothing poultices for wounds!
It helps farmers break up compacted soil with its super strong, deep roots!
Its pleasant, vanilla-like scent actually becomes stronger as the plant dries!
This plant was once used by people to flavor tobacco and even some types of cheese!
Special abilities
Ability
Nitrogen Fixer
Yellow Sweetclover can pull nitrogen gas from the air and turn it into plant food, making the soil healthier for itself and other plants.
Ability
Deep-Rooted Thirsty Survivor
Yellow Sweetclover has a super long taproot that helps it find water deep underground and survive very dry weather.
Ability
Sweet Scent Shield
Yellow Sweetclover produces a sweet-smelling chemical called coumarin, which can help deter some hungry animals from eating too much.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 50-150 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.3-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
pollinates
Common eastern bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
visits flowers for nectar
eaten by
Red deer
Cervus elaphus
grazes on the foliage
eaten by
Meadow vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
eats seeds and stems
Traits
Aromatic
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Yellow Sweetclover?
50-150 cm
How wide does Yellow Sweetclover spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Yellow Sweetclover?
0.3-0.5 cm
When does Yellow Sweetclover bloom?
Late spring to fall
Is Yellow Sweetclover edible?
No
Is Yellow Sweetclover toxic?
Mild
What is Yellow Sweetclover's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is Yellow Sweetclover pollinated?
Insect
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