Flower profile

Yellow sweetclover

Melilotus officinalis

Yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Yellow sweetclover is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 12 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

50states where USDA records it

12Bloomipedia state lists include it

28,739U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Melilotus officinalis, known as sweet yellow clover, yellow melilot, ribbed melilot and common melilot, is a species of legume native to Eurasia and introduced in North America, Africa, and Australia.
From Wikipedia's article Melilotus officinalis, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. ^iNaturalist
In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. ^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 3,536 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #37 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,385 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #31 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 887 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #62 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,606 records)

Bloom time in the 12 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Colorado	Introduced	May–August	3,536
Utah	Introduced	May–September	1,385
New Mexico	Introduced	few records (43)	887
Montana	Introduced	few records (43)	853
Kansas	Introduced	few records (33)	770
Wyoming	Introduced	few records (45)	740
Oklahoma	Introduced	few records (25)	651
Idaho	Introduced	few records (39)	628
South Dakota	Introduced	few records (26)	623
Iowa	Introduced	few records (23)	481
North Dakota	Introduced	few records (49)	481
Nebraska	Introduced	few records (17)	414

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
Colorado: No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Colorado.
Utah: No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Utah.
New Mexico: Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Mexico. ^{19.21.2.9 NMAC}
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Montana.
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. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kansas.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wyoming.
Oklahoma: No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oklahoma.
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Idaho.
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. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Dakota.
Iowa: Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Iowa. ^{IAC 571-77.3}
North Dakota: No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Dakota.
Nebraska: Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Nebraska. ^{163 NAC 4-004}
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.) ^{USDA PLANTS}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 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 yellow sweetclover in 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

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.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Baca, Boulder, Cheyenne, Custer, Delta, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Miguel, Sedgwick, Summit, Teller, Washington, Weld, Yuma.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Guadalupe, Harding, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union, Valencia.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Yellow 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 albus, 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): White 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 Colorado flowers

Lambert's locoweed

Oxytropis lambertii

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–July

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–September

Wild licorice

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MEOF.
iNaturalist, Melilotus officinalis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Melilotus officinalis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (15):
Show all 15 state lists
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Melilotus officinalis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: USDA PLANTS.
Photo: Lexi Destria via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.