Description
Melilotus officinalis
Sweet clover is a deep taprooted drought hardy nitrogen fixing legume, with a multitude of uses.
The young shoots can be eaten cooked, the leaves can be used in salads or cooked, and the flowers, seeds and seedpods are all edible too. It can also be used to feed stock. Medicinally it is taken internally as a diuretic and to treat poor circulation, varicose veins, and fluid retention. Externally it can be to treat bruises, pains, swollen joints and eye inflammations.
As with many other clovers, Melilot contains coumarins and, as the plant dries or spoils, these become converted to dicoumarol, a powerful anticoagulant, so care should be taken when using medicinally or as a dried stock feed.
Biennial. Full sun. Tolerant of a wide range of soils including heavy clay. Drought and frost hardy.
Height to 1.5m when in flower – the yellow flowers appear in mid/late summer through to autumn.
Certified organic plant in 9cm pot.
