Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10, dies entirely with the first hard freeze and relies on prolific seed production for the following year.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (No specific cultivars as it is considered a weed)
About This Grass
An unsightly, light green to yellow-green annual grassy weed that forms sprawling patches, especially along sidewalks, driveways, and thin turf areas. Grows low to the ground when mowed, but can reach 1-2 feet tall if left unmowed. Produces finger-like, digitate spike seed heads in late summer.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat, pointed tips, light green to blue-green color, rolled in the bud (vernation). Features a membranous ligule and a hairy collar region with distinct hairs on the leaf blades and sheaths.
Root System
Shallow, fibrous root system with stolons that root at the lower nodes where they touch the soil. Establishes rapidly from seed in spring, poor drought tolerance without supplemental water, goes dormant/dies with the first heavy frost.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and temperate Asia; now globally distributed in temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and spreading, prostrate habit along edges, forms loose clumps with rooting at lower nodes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun requirement, highly intolerant of dense shade. Requires moderate to high moisture for germination and growth, but thrives in hot, dry compacted soils along pavement edges where turf is stressed.
Mowing & Maintenance
High maintenance weed requiring pre-emergent herbicide application in early spring, post-emergent herbicides, hand-pulling, or dense turf management (mowing high at 3-4 inches to shade out seedlings).
Special Characteristics
Extremely high seed production, highly invasive in thin or stressed lawns, thrives in compacted and high-heat areas like sidewalk borders, poor wear tolerance compared to established turf, but excellent at exploiting bare soil.
Ecological Information
Introduced weed species in North America. Provides minimal wildlife food value compared to native grasses. Known for aggressive invasion of disturbed soils, roadside areas, and lawns, effectively choking out desirable turfgrasses if not properly managed.
Notes
Is this crab grass