Bloomipedia
Small melilot (Melilotus indicus)
Photo: Anne Parsons via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Small melilot

Melilotus indicus

Small melilot (Melilotus indicus) is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Not native to California

Small melilot is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

31states where USDA records it
11,887CA sightings*
16,071U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California

Quick look

Melilotus indicus, sometimes incorrectly written Melilotus indica, is a yellow-flowered herb in the Fabaceae family. It is native to northern Africa, Europe and Asia, but naturalized throughout much of the rest of the world's temperate climate zones. It is a commonly occurring weed in disturbed habitats, with historical uses for forage and medicine.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 31 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to California. NatureServe
  • In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 11,887 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #74 among the 178 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In California, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in California (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (809 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in California. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (moderate, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “moderate.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) NC State Extension has no page for it. USDA PLANTS

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records small melilot in 31 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Small melilot a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.1 to 8.2 and winter lows down to 20 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium
Soil pH range
6.1 to 8.2
Minimum temperature tolerated
20 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
130
Annual precipitation range
16 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Active growth period
Fall, Winter and Spring
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Spring
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MEIN2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Melilotus indica.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 282 counties across 25 states; the most are in Texas (73), Louisiana (60), California (42).

Other Melilotus on Bloomipedia (2): White sweetclover, Yellow sweetclover.

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, Common vetch.

More California flowers

Deerweed (Acmispon glaber)

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Pacific pea (Lathyrus vestitus)

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Rose clover (Trifolium hirtum)

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🌼 Blooms in CA: March–May

Sources