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Melilotus officinalis (Yellow sweet clover)

Other names: Yellow melilot, Ribbed melilot, Common melilot, Balsam flower, Hart's clover, Heartwort, King's clover, Plaster clover, Sweet clover, Wild laburnum, Melilotus arvensis, Melilotus pallidus, Medicago officinalis, Trifolium officinale

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Species
M. officinalis is an upright, annual or biennial with pinnate leaves divided into three elliptic, toothed, grey-green leaflets and racemes of yellow flowers from midsummer into autumn.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
1.2 m 0.8 m 1-2 years
3 ft 2 ft 1-2 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in sun. Prefers clay or saline soil. Drought tolerant once established. Fixes nitrogen in the soil so is suitable for use as a green manure. Considered an invasive species in most introduced areas.

Suggested uses

Ground Cover, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Wildlife, Bees (attract & feed bees), Green manure

UK hardiness

H7

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Semi-evergreen

Habit

Upright

Native to

Western Asia, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Central Asia

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Dried leaves can be toxic if ingested.

Plant care

Pruning

If cut back before flowering, the plant will grow for another year. If grown as an annual, remove at the end of the growing season. If grown as a green manure, chop the leaves back and leave to wilt. Two weeks prior to planting, dig the wilted plants into

Propagation methods

Seed

Propagation

Sow seed in situ from spring to midsummer. Soak seed up to 12 hours in warm water prior to sowing. Germination usually takes place within two weeks. Alternatively, sow at 20C (68F) in early spring.

Pests

Generally pest free.

Diseases

Generally disease free.

Remove annuals at end of flowering season (optional)

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Sow seed in situ

Dig bean plants into the soil when crop is over

Plant in neutral to alkaline soil (autumn or spring)

Sow seeds in containers with heat (spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (2)

Melilotus

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Melilotus officinalis
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Melilotus officinalis Yellow sweet clover
Medicago lupulina
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Medicago lupulina Black medick
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Companion plants (0)

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