Like other members of the Potexvirus genus, ClYMV is a monopartite strand of positive-sense, single-stranded RNA surrounded by a capsid made for a single viral encoded protein.

Potexviruses make banned inclusions[3] made up of layers of parallel virus particles.

Banned inclusions body (I) of Clover yellow mosaic virus in Vicia faba cells, stained with Azure A.

[9] ClYMV is now known to infect several other species of clover,[10] peas (Pisum sativum), faba beans (Vicia faba), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus).

It was found in a new host, the ornamental plant, Verbena canadensis variety ‘homestead purple’.