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 Zones 3 to 10 as a warm-season annual, dies completely with the first hard frost
About This Grass
An annual grassy weed with a sprawling, crab-like growth habit, coarse texture, light to yellowish-green color, and branching stems that can reach heights of 1 to 2 feet if left unmowed
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4mm, flat shape, pointed tips, light green to yellowish-green color, rolled vernation in the bud, hairy leaf sheaths and blades, membranous ligule, and no auricles
Root System
Shallow, fibrous root system with stolons that root at the lower nodes, fast establishment from seed, poor drought tolerance causing dormancy during dry spells
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and temperate Asia, now widely distributed globally as a common agricultural and turf weed
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively along the ground and rooting at the nodes, forming loose mats
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun requirement, thrives in moist soils but tolerates moderate drought, prefers well-drained soils with neutral pH
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow low at 1.5 to 2.5 inches to stress the plant, high maintenance requirement for weed control, requires pre-emergent herbicides in spring
Special Characteristics
Low wear tolerance, highly invasive in thin turf, excellent at colonizing bare spots, poor winter color retention as it dies in winter
Ecological Information
Introduced species, acts as a troublesome weed in turfgrass and gardens, provides minor seed food for ground-feeding birds, highly resilient seed producer