| yellow sweetclover | USDA PLANTS Symbol: MEOF U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs |
| Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Fabales: Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
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| Synonym(s): yellow sweet-clover | |
| Native Range: Asia, Europe, Eurasia (); Eurasia (BAIL) | |
Yellow sweetclover is an annual to short-lived perennial herb native to Eurasia. Plants can grow to approximately 6 ½ ft. (2 m) in height and can sometimes be woody at the base. Leaves are ovate to oblong, entire, stipulate and 0.4-1 in. (1-2.5 cm) long. Flowering occurs from April to September, when yellow, pea-like flowers develop in a branched inflorescence at the tips of the flowering stems. Flowers are less than ¼ in. (7 mm) long. Fruits are small, circular, wrinkled and light brown pods that contain one seed (rarely 2). Plants occur along roadsides, in open fields, pastures and other disturbed areas. Yellow sweet clover was introduced into North America as a forage crop in the 1900s. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Plant(s); in flower Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); University of Alaska - Anchorage Archive, University of Alaska - Anchorage, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); side view of whole plant in typical habitat Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Jamie Nielsen, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Sweetclover - left; alfalfa - right Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Pedro Tenorio-Lezama, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Jamie Nielsen, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Wendy VanDyk Evans, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Bonnie Million, National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); net-veined pods Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Close-up of hilar region. D. Walters and C. Southwick, CPHST, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Seeds positioned on one of their faces with hilar notch pointing up. Note shallow, pale groove running from the hilum towards narrow end of the seed. Radicle is on the right. D. Walters and C. Southwick, CPHST, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org Alternative content
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 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. Alternative content
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