Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (no specific cultivated varieties)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10; strictly an annual that dies with the first heavy frost, leaving seeds to germinate the following spring.
About This Grass
Coarse-textured, light to medium green annual grass with branching stems that root at lower nodes. Grows rapidly in summer, reaching heights of 6 to 24 inches if left unmowed. Features distinctive finger-like (digitate) raceme seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium to coarse in width (4-10 mm), flat, pointed at the tips, light green to grayish-green, with a rolled vernation. Leaf blades and sheaths are typically hairy. Ligule is a membranous structure, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Fibrous and shallow root system with stolons that root at the nodes. Establishes very quickly from seed in bare or thin turf areas, highly resilient in disturbed soils.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and temperate Asia; now widespread globally as a common weed in lawns and agricultural fields
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and spreading; prostrate to ascending stems that root at the lower nodes, forming loose, sprawling mats
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and thrives in hot, dry conditions once established, though frequent moisture accelerates its growth. Highly competitive in thin lawns under drought stress. Prefers well-drained soils but adapts to various soil types with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Can tolerate low mowing (1.0 to 2.0 inches) but frequently escapes standard lawn mowing by growing horizontally. High maintenance required to eradicate via pre-emergent herbicides and hand-pulling.
Special Characteristics
Poor wear tolerance for high-traffic turf, but excellent at rapidly colonizing bare patches and disturbed soils. Highly invasive in thinning lawns, outcompeting desirable turfgrasses during hot summer months.
Ecological Information
Introduced weed species in North America. Provides minimal forage or wildlife value compared to native grasses. Often considered a persistent indicator of stressed, compacted, or poorly fertilized turf.