Bloomipedia
White sweetclover (Melilotus albus)
Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

White sweetclover

Melilotus albus

White sweetclover (Melilotus albus) is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

White sweetclover is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 11 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

50states where USDA records it
11Bloomipedia state lists include it
38,338U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Quick look

Melilotus albus, known as honey clover, white melilot (UK), Bokhara clover (Australia), white sweetclover (US), and sweet clover, is a nitrogen-fixing legume in the family Fabaceae. Melilotus albus is considered a valuable honey plant and source of nectar and is often grown for forage. Its characteristic sweet odor, intensified by drying, is derived from coumarin.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 50 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,444 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #100 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,037 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #80 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,955 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #61 among the 152 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,937 records)
Bloom time in the 11 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New York–June–August2,444
Michigan–June–August2,037
Minnesota–June–August1,955
Illinois–June–August1,862
Wisconsin–June–September1,729
New Mexico–few records (46)693
Iowa–few records (24)425
Kansas–few records (10)290
Nebraska–few records (14)196
South Dakota–few records (9)177
North Dakota–few records (14)175

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe
Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 8 of our 11 states.
See each state
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). R 299.1028
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). Minn. R. 6134.0300
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. IL E&T checklist 2025
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NR 27.03
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). IAC 571-77.3
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). 163 NAC 4-004
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead.

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 white sweetclover in 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Westchester.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Calhoun, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives White sweetclover a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.5 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
110
Annual precipitation range
17 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
16 inches
Salinity tolerance
High
Fertility requirement
High
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Yellow · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

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

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Puerto Rico: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Melilotus alba, Melilotus arvensis, Melilotus leucanthus, Melilotus lutea.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 2030 counties across 50 states; the most are in Missouri (108), Kansas (105), Illinois (102).

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

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 New York flowers

Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: May–October
White clover (Trifolium repens)

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: May–July
Purple crownvetch (Securigera varia)

Purple crownvetch

Securigera varia

★ PA state beautification and conservation plantIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: June–August

Sources