Yellow Clover Description

Appearance

• Yellow clovers have branched stems that appear hairless, but do have very sparse fine, short hairs. The leaves of the yellow clover alternate, and are separated into three leaflets. The middle or primary leaflet grows on a short stalk. Leaf lengths range from about 1/2 to 1 inch. The yellow flowers grow densely crowded at the top portion of the stems and bloom from June through August during the second season of growth. Each bloom produces up to two seeds during the second growing season.

Origins

• Yellow clover, also called sweet clover, originates in Europe and Asia, but can be found all over the United States. Yellow clover degrades native grasses by growing over top of them, shading them from the sun they need to survive. It grows in abundance on roadsides and untended fields. At about the turn of the century, sweet clover was used as a feed crop for livestock and as a soil builder and is still used as such today as well as in the production of honey. Because of the yellow clovers beneficial uses, it is likely to continue to be planted, despite its tendency to invade and harm other plants.

Habitat

• Yellow clover can grow in a many conditions and climates. It can tolerate dry or moist soils, and thrives in both cold and hot climates. It grows best in direct sunlight, but will also grow in partial shade. It cannot tolerate full shade, and even the shade from its own leaves can cause lower leaves of the yellow clover to wither and fall off.

Life Cycle

• The yellow clover develops a strong root system during its first season of growth, but does not develop flowers until its second season. In this period, the plant flowers, seeds and then dies. Yellow clover flowers from May through September and can produce hardy seeds that can remain in the soil for several years. Seeds are often scattered by rainwater runoff, wind and streams. The host plant dies after the second year, so producing seeds is crucial for it to continue to exist. It the flowering stage is interrupted or stopped, the yellow clover cannot spread.