Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (No specific cultivars commonly grown as turf)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10; strictly an annual that dies with the first heavy frost.
About This Grass
An aggressive, coarse-textured summer annual weed grass. Forms low-growing, sprawling clumps with light to medium green foliage. Can grow up to 1-2 feet tall if left unmowed. Produces distinctive finger-like (digitate) racemes as seed heads in late summer.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, 3-10mm wide, flat, pointed tip, light yellow-green to bright green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), hairy surfaces (especially on the lower sheaths), membranous ligule, and no auricles.
Root System
Fibrous and shallow, with roots emerging from the lower nodes touching the ground. Fast establishment from seed in spring, high tendency to thatch in neglected areas.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and temperate Asia, now widely naturalized globally in temperate and tropical regions.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and branching; roots at the lower nodes, forming sprawling mats that choke out desirable turf.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and thrives in hot, dry, disturbed soils. Low to moderate water needs, excellent drought tolerance once established, preferring compacted or thin turf soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2 to 3 inches to help shade out seedlings, but high maintenance required to control due to prolific seed production. Apply pre-emergent herbicides in early spring for effective management.
Special Characteristics
Extremely high weed aggressiveness, low wear tolerance compared to dense turfgrasses, highly adaptable to poor soil, compaction, and low mowing heights.
Ecological Information
Considered an invasive weed in turfgrass settings. Provides minimal forage value for livestock or wildlife compared to native grasses. Thrives in disturbed soils along roadsides, lawns, and gardens.