Is this plant good for bees?

Yes, it is highly attractive to honeybees and provides a significant nectar source.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It is generally not recommended for containers due to its long taproot and large size.

Plant guide

White sweet clover.

Melilotus albus

Pronounced meh-lih-LO-tus AL-bus

Also known as Bokhara Clover, Bokhara-clover, Bukhara Clover, White Melilot, White Sweet-clover, Honey Clover, Honey-lotus, Tree Clover, Whiter Millet, Honey-clover, Hubam Clover, White Melilot, White Sweet Clover, White Sweetclover

White sweet clover is a hardy biennial often found in fields and along roadsides. It is well known for its fragrant white flowers that attract many pollinators. You will find it grows quite vigorously in open, sunny areas.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Biennial herb
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

This plant thrives in full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Watch for yellowing leaves which may indicate poor drainage. It is very drought tolerant once established.

Watering: Water deeply only when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Feeding: It rarely needs fertilizer as it fixes its own nitrogen.
Pruning: Trim back after flowering to prevent unwanted seed spread.
Repotting: It is best grown in the ground, but if potted, move to a larger container when roots become crowded.
Soil: Well-draining, adaptable to poor soils
Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature: -30 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%

Safety

People: Ingestion of large amounts of moldy plant material can cause internal bleeding due to dicoumarol production.
Pets: This plant can be toxic to pets if ingested in large quantities due to coumarin content.
Children: Keep children away from the seeds as they are small and could pose a choking hazard if ingested.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger hay fever symptoms in some people during the peak flowering season.
Edibility: The plant contains coumarin which can be toxic if consumed in large quantities or if the foliage becomes moldy.

How to identify it

Tall, branching stems
Small white pea-like flowers
Compound leaves with three leaflets
Sweet, honey-like fragrance

Height: 0.6 to 2m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Alfalfa WeevilCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
AphidsUncommon
RustUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

Plant alongside other nitrogen fixing legumes to create a self fertilizing patch in poor soil.

Grows well with

Red Clover · Both are legumes that fix nitrogen and thrive in similar soil conditions.
Alfalfa · They share similar environmental needs and provide excellent ground cover.

Similar species

Yellow Sweet Clover · It is a very similar species but features yellow flowers instead of white.

Science

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Melilotus
Order: Fabales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and temperate Asia.
Conservation: It is considered an invasive species in many parts of North America and should be managed carefully.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open fields where it outcompetes other vegetation through rapid growth.

Value to wildlife: excellent nectar source, improves soil nitrogen
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: soil improvement, forage crop, honey production, green manure

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant good for bees?: Yes, it is highly attractive to honeybees and provides a significant nectar source.
Can I grow it in a pot?: It is generally not recommended for containers due to its long taproot and large size.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Melilotus comes from the Greek words for honey and lotus, while albus refers to its white flowers.

Good to know

It is a member of the pea family.
The flowers have a sweet, vanilla like scent.
It is a biennial plant, growing leaves the first year and flowers the second.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your white sweet clover growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.