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 cultivated varieties as it is generally treated as a weed)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10, thriving in warm summer climates. Highly susceptible to frost and dies completely with the first hard autumn freeze.
About This Grass
An annual grassy weed with a sprawling, semi-erect growth habit reaching heights of 6 to 24 inches when left unmowed. Color is typically light green to bluish-green. Texture is coarse with prominent seed heads featuring multiple finger-like spikes arranged in a raceme at the top of the stem.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium to coarse in width (3-10 mm), flat, pointed at the tip, light green, rolled in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a membranous structure, and auricles are absent. Leaves and sheaths often have hairs.
Root System
Fibrous and shallow root system with roots forming at the lower nodes where stems touch the ground. Fast establishment from seed in spring, low drought tolerance once mature in summer dry spells, highly resilient and aggressive runner.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and temperate Asia, now widely naturalized globally in temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and spreading; stems root at the lower nodes, forming a loose, sprawling mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and thrives in warm, thin turf areas. Moderate to high water needs for active growth, but seeds survive dry periods easily. Prefers moist, compacted, or poorly drained soils with a wide pH range.
Mowing & Maintenance
Resilient weed that survives low mowing (0.5 to 1.5 inches). High maintenance required to eradicate chemically or culturally. Needs pre-emergent herbicides in early spring and dense turf competition to control.
Special Characteristics
Low wear tolerance individually, but extremely aggressive invader of thin lawns. Excellent at invading disturbed soil and bare spots. Zero winter color retention as it dies off annually.
Ecological Information
Considered an invasive weed in managed turfgrass and lawns. Provides minor food source for ground-feeding birds and small mammals via its abundant seed production. Often indicates compacted soil or improper watering/mowing habits.