Crabgrass (Large/Hairy Crabgrass)
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Panicoideae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild type
Hardiness Zones
Grown as an annual in USDA Zones 2-11; dies with the first hard frost but leaves behind thousands of dormant seeds.
About This Grass
A coarse, opportunistic annual weed that emerges in spring. It features pale to yellow-green foliage with a sprawling, star-like growth pattern from a central crown. If left unmowed, it produces tall, finger-like racemes (3-7 spikes) that can reach 12-24 inches.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, 4-10mm wide; flat with a prominent midvein; pointed tip; light green to lime green color; rolled vernation; tall, membranous ligule; no auricles. Leaves and sheaths are often covered in long, stiff hairs.
Root System
Shallow, fibrous root system; highly effective at colonizing bare soil. Can root at lower stem nodes where they touch the ground, making it difficult to pull manually.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Eurasia; naturalized worldwide throughout North America in temperate and tropical regions.
Growth Habit
Prostrate, spreading decumbent stems that can root at the nodes (stoloniferous-like behavior); forms dense mats.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (highly light sensitive); thrives in hot, moist conditions but remains very drought tolerant once established; prefers disturbed soils with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low-maintenance weed; it thrives below typical lawn mowing heights (down to 0.5 inches) by sprawling horizontally. To control: maintain turf at 3+ inches to shade out emerging seedlings.
Special Characteristics
Extremely high seed production (up to 150,000 seeds per plant); excellent heat and salt tolerance; high wear tolerance; specifically targets thin or stressed lawn areas.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Invasive in turf settings; seeds provide food for songbirds and small rodents, but it is generally considered a nuisance that outcompetes native or desirable forage grasses.