Authentic Wisconsin.  White Sweet Clover - Melilotus albus


White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2019.

Above: White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2019.


White Sweet Clover - Melilotus albus   (Introduced - naturalized; ecologically invasive)

The White Sweet Clover has 5-parted white flowers (in the shape of members of the pea family) that are clustered in spike-like racemes up to 6-8 inches long.

Like Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis), White Sweet Clover was also brought to North America as a forage crop. It escaped cultivation and invades dry, disturbed sites such as roadsides and fields.

Other names: Honey clover, White melilot.

Bloom: June - October.

Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis) once had the same classification as White Sweet Clover but is now considered a separate species. White Sweet Cover (Melilotus albus) starts blooming a few weeks after Yellow Sweet Cover (Melilotus officinalis).

For more information on White Sweet Clover visit Wikipedia.

Or, for information on White Sweet Clover (Melilotus albus ) visit the: Wisconsin State Herbarium.


White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2019.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 28, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 28, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 28, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 28, 2022.
White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on July 1, 2022.

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Wisconsin Wildflowers


White Sweet Clover
Melilotus albus


White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.

White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.

White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.


Above: White Sweet Clover near sidewalk along Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin (6/27/22).


White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.

White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on June 27, 2022.


Above:White Sweet Clover near shore of Lake Wingra in Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin(7/12/19).


White Sweet Clover specimen collected along roadside in Platteville, Wisconsin on June 15, 1948.


Above: White Sweet Clover specimen collected along roadside in Platteville, Wisconsin on June 15, 1948.


White Sweet Clover botanical illustration circa 1913.


Above: White Sweet Clover botanical illustration circa 1913.



White Sweet Clover line drawing from USDA  NRCS, Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species.


Above: White Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis*) line drawing from USDA NRCS, Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species., USDA NRCS National Wetland Team. * NOTE: The USDA Plant database still classifies White and Yellow Sweet Clover as the same.



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