Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10, acts as an annual completing its life cycle in one season and dying with the first hard frost.
About This Grass
An aggressive, coarse, light green to yellowish-green summer annual weed that forms sprawling mats. It grows low to the ground when mowed frequently but can reach up to 1-2 feet tall if left unmowed. Characterized by hairy stems and leaves, and a finger-like raceme seed head.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, 4-10mm wide, flat, pointed tips, light green to blue-green color, rolled in the bud (vernation). Leaves and sheaths are typically hairy. Ligule is membranous and jagged; auricles are absent.
Root System
Shallow, fibrous root system with nodes that can root where stems touch the soil. Establishes rapidly from seeds in spring, producing heavy thatch-like sprawling mats.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and temperate Asia, now widely naturalized globally in temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and branching prostrate clumps, spreading outward along the ground and rooting at lower nodes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and thrives in hot, dry, compacted soils. High tolerance for drought once established by entering a semi-dormant state, but responds aggressively to frequent irrigation.
Mowing & Maintenance
Hard to control by mowing alone due to its low-growing, spreading habit. Tolerates very low mowing heights by spreading horizontally. High maintenance required to prevent and remove manually or chemically.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional tolerance to heat, drought, and compacted soils. Poor wear tolerance compared to dense turfgrasses, but aggressively invades thin, stressed lawns.
Ecological Information
Introduced weed species with low desirable wildlife value, though seeds are eaten by some birds. Can become invasive in disturbed turfgrass and agricultural settings, competing heavily with desired turf species.