| 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 |
 Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Wendy VanDyk Evans, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, 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 |
 Foliage; Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; in flower Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, 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 |
| 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 |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
