Yellow Sweetclover

Melilotus officinalis

Found in fields, roadsides, disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Virginia. 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

Melilotus officinalis — flower photograph — Douglas Goldman · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original photograph

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Zigzag Goldenrod
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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
Common Evening-primrose
Oenothera biennis
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, spread, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle: Annual
Bloom: April to October
Fruiting season: Summer

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Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 99 Virginia 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 Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 127 animals.

Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Black-and-White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Birds. 2 shared habitats

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

27CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · 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
Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth

Show all 27

Glaucopsyche lygdamusSilvery Blue
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
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
Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
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

Bloom · “April to October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Single crown” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 4b–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “1–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Life cycle · “Annual” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers differs)
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “yellow” · USDA PLANTS
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Neutral to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “1–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Yellow Melilot; Yellow Sweet Clover

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source