Crabgrass (Large Crabgrass)
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass (can be Pasture/Forage in specific contexts)
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild-type (often found in unmaintained lawns)
Hardiness Zones
Grown as an annual in USDA Zones 2-11; dies with the first hard frost but persists via thousands of seeds in the soil.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, opportunistic annual grass that forms dense, low-growing mats. It has a distinctive pale green to lime green color and develops sprawling finger-like seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat, with a sharp-pointed tip. Color is light green. Blades and sheaths are covered in stiff, dense hairs. Vernation is rolled; ligule is tall and membranous; auricles are absent.
Root System
Fibrous and shallow but very efficient; aggressively roots at lower stem nodes where they touch the soil. Fast establishment from seed in late spring.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and Asia; widely naturalized throughout North America and temperate/tropical regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type transitioning to prostrate; spreads via rooting at the nodes (stolons).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires high light intensity); highly drought-tolerant once established. Thrives in compacted soils and various pH levels.
Mowing & Maintenance
High maintenance for removal; thrives when turf is mowed too short (<2 inches). In forage contexts, mowed at 3-4 inches; highly responsive to nitrogen.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; highly invasive in lawns; exceptional ability to crowd out desirable turf species in hot, dry conditions.
Ecological Information
Introduced status in the Americas; seeds provide food for songbirds and small mammals. Highly invasive in managed landscapes and agricultural fields.