Tall Sweet Clover Plant Care

Tall Sweet Clover (Melilotus altissimus) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Melilotus genus. Tall Sweet Clover is also known as Tall Melilot.

Tall Sweet Clover displays an upright, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Tall Sweet Clover produces small clustered yellow flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Tall Sweet Clover every 4–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Tall Sweet Clover thrives in full sun.

Melilotus altissimus tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Tall Sweet Clover prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Tall Sweet Clover to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Tall Sweet Clover every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining loamy soil with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Tall Sweet Clover is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Tall Sweet Clover can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Tall Sweet Clover while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Tall Sweet Clover is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Tall Sweet Clover can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to white sweet clover plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Tall Sweet Clover is susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, grasshoppers. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Tall Sweet Clover grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. In cooler regions, grow Tall Sweet Clover as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.