Sweet Clover - Yellow
LATIN NAME
Melilotus officinalis
SEASON
Biennial
BLOOM COLOR
Yellow
WHEN TO PLANT
South (winter) - North (spring to early fall)
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Nitrogen fixator, drought tolerant
MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS
Low
ACIDIC SOIL TOLERANCE
Low
COLD TOLERANCE
Good
HEAT TOLERANCE
Low
SHADE TOLERANCE
Poor
FERTILITY NEEDS
Low
MATURE HEIGHT
48 inches
About...
Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus Officinalis) - Biennial sweet clover thrives under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. However, it will not tolerate acid soils. It is drought resistant, winter-hardy and productive throughout all 50 states.
MORE CLOVER OPTIONS
Planting Directions
SOWING TEMPERATURE
40F+
SEEDING RATE
12 - 15 lbs per acre
AVERAGE GERM TIME
7 - 15 days
PLANTING DEPTH
1/4 - 1/2 inch
SOWING METHOD
Broadcast or drill
ENVIRONMENT
Full sun
USDA ZONES
4 - 10
ESTABLISHMENT RATE
Moderate
Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus Officinalis) - Sweet clover will not tolerate acid soils. It is drought resistant, winter-hardy and productive throughout all 50 states. Sweet clover is native to Europe and Asia, but is found now all across the U.S. Sweet clover seeds were used 100 years ago as a forage crop and soil builder. Today it is also used as a wildlife cover crop and in production of honey.
Inoculated Seed - Our Yellow Sweet clover seed has been coated with an inoculant for better establishment. Nitrogen fixation is a one of the key values found in legumes and can only occur with the proper inoculation. Although many strains or Rhizobium may be present in the soil, all are not equally beneficial. With Nitro-Coat® each seed is inoculated with the correct Rhizobium strains and coated through a proven process that ensures a very high level of successful inoculation. A key to any successful establishment and early seed development is moisture. Nitro-Coat® is naturally water absorbent and helps attract soil moisture to the seed, getting your stand established quickly. This coating process which Outsidepride utilizes, assures that only the top-performing and crop-specific rhizobia will be applied to ensure your clovers reach maximum nodulation, stand establishment, and yield potential. With Nitro-Coat® each seed is inoculated with the correct Rhizobium strains and coated through a proven process that ensures a very high level of successful inoculation. The weight of the clover seeds will contain approximately 34% coating material that contains the inoculant and water holding material for better establishment and viability of the seed. There is no difference in the seeding rates between the coated and raw seed due to the increased germination and viability of the bulk clover seeds that are coated and inoculated. This coating material is not OMRI certified.
Common Questions
How is sweet clover used?
Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies and are popular for honey production. Sweet clover is also utilized by birds as cover and food. Can be used for hay, silage and pasture. However, livestock prefer other legumes because sweet clover has a bitter taste. Wildlife such as deer, elk and antelope like the stems of leaves of sweet clover.
Can I use sweet clover for a green manure crop?
Yes, its ability to grow rapidly and fix nitrogen make it an ideal green manure crop. Sweet clover is great at mining insoluble minerals like potassium and phosphorus from the lower levels of the soil and bringing them to the surface. Its long tap root also helps loosen hard packed soils.
Can I use sweet clover for reclamation?
Yes, rapid growth and easy establishment make sweet clover a popular choice for reclamation seedings. It also works well for road cuts, post fire, and other disturbed sites.
Why does my clover produce lots of leaves but few flowers?
This usually happens when the soil has too much nitrogen from fertilizers. Clover naturally fixes nitrogen, so excess feeding pushes leafy growth instead of blooms. Reducing nitrogen input and ensuring adequate phosphorus and potassium will encourage better flower production and longer blooming periods.
How often should I mow clover to keep it blooming?
Clover should not be mowed too frequently, as cutting removes developing flower buds. Mowing once after the peak bloom allows seeds to form and flowers to regenerate. Setting mower blades higher and leaving patches uncut will help extend the blooming season naturally.
Can overwatering really reduce clover blooming?
Yes, overwatering creates waterlogged soil, suffocating roots and encouraging fungal diseases that weaken plants. Clover thrives in evenly moist but well-drained soil. Deep, infrequent watering supports strong root systems and healthier blooms, while consistent overwatering reduces flowering and may cause early plant decline.
Why is soil pH important for clover flowers?
Soil pH affects nutrient availability. If the soil is too acidic or alkaline, clover cannot absorb key elements like phosphorus and potassium that support flowering. Testing soil regularly and adjusting pH with lime or sulfur ensures balanced conditions and better blooming performance.
Can clover grow well in shady areas?
Clover tolerates partial shade but produces fewer flowers with less sunlight. For abundant blooms, plant it where it receives at least six hours of direct sun daily. If your garden is shaded, trimming trees or relocating clover to sunnier spots will improve blooming significantly.
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