Crabgrass (Incipient/Seedling stage)
Digitaria sanguinalis (Large Crabgrass) · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Native/Wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-11 (as an annual). Germinates when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit for several consecutive days.
About This Grass
A prolific summer annual weed. Seedlings appear with very wide, lime-green leaves. As it matures, it forms a dense, sprawling mat. Seed heads are spike-like racemes arranged in a finger-like (digitate) pattern.
Blade Characteristics
Wide (5-10mm), flat blades with a prominent midvein. Light green to yellowish-green color. Blades are typically hairy (pubescent) on both surfaces. Ligule is tall and membranous; auricles are absent.
Root System
Shallow, fibrous root system. Highly effective at competing for surface moisture. Secondary roots form quickly where leaf nodes touch moist soil.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Originates from Eurasia; widely naturalized across North America and temperate/tropical regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Prostrate, spreading growth habit; develops adventitious roots at nodes (stolons) as it matures, initially appearing as a small clump.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; high drought tolerance once established. Thrives in compacted, poor, 또는 over-watered soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Not applicable (avoided). Typically mowed at lawn height (2-4 inches), but can set seed even at low mowing heights. Control requires pre-emergent herbicides or manual pulling before seed set.
Special Characteristics
Extremely high wear tolerance; thrives in heat that causes cool-season turf to go dormant. Highly invasive in thinned turfgrass.
Ecological Information
Introduced species. Provides seeds for some ground-feeding birds, but generally considered a nuisance that out-competes native or desired turf species through allelopathy and rapid nutrient uptake.