Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild variety (N/A for specific cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-11; annual cycle means it dies with the first hard frost but leaves behind thousands of seeds for the following spring.
About This Grass
A low-growing, spreading annual weed characterized by coarse, light green foliage. It grows in a prostrate, sprawling manner, especially in bare soil. Seed heads are distinctive finger-like spikes arranged in a digitate fashion at the top of long stems.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (5-10mm), flat shape with a pointed tip. Pale green to yellowish-green color. Rolled vernation in the bud. Blades and sheaths are typically covered in long, stiff hairs (pilose). The ligule is membranous and lacks auricles.
Root System
Shallow, fibrous root system that rapidly establishes. It spreads aggressively by rooting at the joints (nodes) of laying stems, allowing it to cover bare ground quickly.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and Asia; broadly naturalized throughout North America and temperate/tropical regions globally.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and decumbent (prostrate) growth; forms dense mats by rooting at the nodes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun preferred (highly opportunistic in disturbed sites); moderate watering needs but extremely drought-tolerant; thrives in poor, compacted, or dry soils with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Extremely low mowing tolerance (can survive and set seed even at 0.5 inches); as a weed, maintenance usually involves removal or pre-emergent herbicides rather than cultivation.
Special Characteristics
Indicated by its extreme ability to crowd out turf grasses, high salt tolerance, and prolific seed production (up to 150,000 seeds per plant). It is highly resistant to most common lawn diseases.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Invasive status in most turf environments; seeds provide food for some songbirds and small mammals, but it is generally considered a nuisance that reduces biodiversity in managed landscapes.