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Yellow Sweetclover

Melilotus officinalis

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in fields, roadsides, disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

-30
Harmful

Not native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
1–3 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Light
Full sun
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist
See native alternatives

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Arkansas.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Bluestem Goldenrod
    Solidago caesia

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Zigzag Goldenrod
    Solidago flexicaulis

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
    Solidago rugosa

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, spread, evergreen or deciduous

Refine these alternatives in the finder

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At a glance

Life cycle
Annual
Bloom
April to October
Fruiting season
Summer

Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 32 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 159 animals.

All wildlife of Arkansas

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

28CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Melilotus

  • Agrotis venerabilisVenerable Dart, Dusky Cut-Worm
  • Anticarsia gemmatalisVelvetbean Caterpillar Moth
  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Automeris ioIo Moth
  • Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
  • Colias eurythemeOrange Sulphur, Alfalfa Butterfly
  • Colias philodiceClouded Sulphur, Clover Butterfly
  • Cupido comyntasEastern Tailed-Blue
  • Dasylophia anguinaBlack-Spotted Prominent
  • Echinargus isolaReakirt's Blue, Isola Blue
Show all 28
  • Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
  • Glaucopsyche lygdamusSilvery Blue
  • Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
  • Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
  • Leptotes marinaMarine Blue
  • Nomophila nearcticaLucerne Moth, American Celery Webworm
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
  • Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
  • Pleuroprucha insulsariaCommon Tan Wave
  • Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
  • Scopula inductataSoft-Lined Wave
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
  • Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Walshia miscecolorellaSweetclover Root Borer Moth
  • Xenotemna pallorana
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
1Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Melilotus

  • Megachile melanophaea
Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
7BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Melilotus

  • Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose
  • Antigone canadensisSandhill Crane
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Centrocercus urophasianusGreater Sage-Grouse
  • Oreortyx pictusMountain Quail
  • Perdix perdixGray Partridge
  • Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Fabaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4b–9b
Soil pH
Neutral to alkaline
Flower color
Yellow
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Single crown
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Summer
Fruit ends
Summer

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Yellow Melilot; Yellow Sweet Clover

Conservation status

Arkansas rankSNA
Global rankGNR
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources