Yellow sweetclover

Species: White sweetclover (Melilotus albus Medik.)
Yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam)
Cultivars: Hubam
Origin: Europe
Use: Grazing, pasture.
Description:
General:

Life Span:

 4-6 feet tall, erect, very similar to alfalfa except flowers are yellow (yellow sweet clover) or white (white sweet clover).
White, annual – Yellow, biennial.
Adaptation:
Climate:
pH:
Soil:
Rainfall:
Temperature:		 Drought Tolerant
6.5-8.0, 7-8 (best adapted)
Sandy-loam, clay-loam.
12-65 inches.
-38ยบ F. (minimum). High cold tolerance.
Management:
Seeding Rate:
Planting Date:
Planting Depth:
Seed Cost:
Season of Use:
Production:		 12-15 lb/A
September-October
<0.25 inch
White: $24-27/A, Yellow: $12-15/A
May-July
3000-5000 lb/A
Notes:
  • Low bloat potential
  • Inoculate with Rhizobia bacteria specific to sweetclovers (Type A).
  • Moldy hay can cause coumarin toxicity.
  • Coumarin is an aromatic bitter taste compound. Mold converts coumarin to dicoumarol an anticoagulant.
  • Low-coumarin cultivars are being developed and tested (2006).

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