100 Seeds Yellow Sweet Clover Melilotus officinalis Pollinator Friendly Cover Crop

Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis) is a biennial legume valued for its fragrant yellow flower spikes, vigorous growth, and usefulness as a green manure, cover crop, and forage plant. It produces deep taproots that help break up compacted soil and adds nitrogen, making it a practical choice for soil improvement and meadow plantings.

The tall, airy flower spikes bloom through summer and draw bees and other pollinators in abundance. Beyond cover cropping, it works well in wildflower mixes, roadside and pasture seedings, and erosion control on poor or disturbed ground. Plants establish quickly in the first year and flower heavily in the second.
Species: Melilotus officinalis
Type: Biennial legume
Plant_Habit: Upright, branching, 3 to 5 feet tall
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Average to poor, well drained; tolerates clay and alkaline soils
Days_to_Harvest: 60 to 90 days to bloom
Zones: 3 to 9
Germination: 7 to 14 days
Sowing: Direct sow 1/4 inch deep in early spring or late summer; scarify seed for best results
Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart
Notes: Low maintenance once established; drought tolerant; excellent nitrogen fixer