Crabgrass (Large/Hairy Crabgrass)
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4 photosynthetic pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass (occasionally used for low-quality forage)
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild type (no specific ornamental cultivar identified)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-11 (as an annual); dies back completely during winter frost and returns via prolific seed production in spring.
About This Grass
A coarse, opportunistic grass that forms low-growing, wide-spreading clumps. It features a pale to medium green color and becomes reddish-purple after the first frost. Its seed heads are digitiform (finger-like) spikes emerging from the top of the stem.
Blade Characteristics
Wide blades (>4mm), tapering to a sharp point; texture is coarse with visible hairs on the surface and sheath (hairy crabgrass). Vernation is rolled in the bud, and the ligule is tall and membranous with no auricles present.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow, but highly effective at establishment. It can root at lower stem nodes that touch the ground, allowing for rapid horizontal spread despite being an annual.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and Asia; naturally adapted globally in temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Prostrate, spreading habit; primarily tillering and rooting at the nodes (stolon-like behavior) to form dense mats
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sunlight (6+ hours); highly drought-tolerant once established; thrives in disturbed soils and compacted areas; prefers frequent watering for rapid growth.
Mowing & Maintenance
Extremely low maintenance requirements; survives very low mowing heights (under 1 inch) by growing horizontally; requires pre-emergent herbicide for control in lawns.
Special Characteristics
Extremely high wear tolerance; high heat tolerance; exceptional ability to crowd out desirable turfgrasses; prolific seed producer (up to 150,000 seeds per plant).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Invasive status in North America; provides forage for some livestock but generally considered a weed; helps stabilize bare soil quickly but reduces local biodiversity in managed landscapes.