Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass, Turf Invader
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (No specific cultivars as it is considered a weed)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10 as a summer annual.
About This Grass
An annual grassy weed with a sprawling, branching growth habit. Stems often take a purplish or reddish tint near the base and can reach 12 to 24 inches in length when left unmanaged. It forms coarse, unsightly patches in lawns, turning straw-brown with the first heavy frost.
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse width (4-10 mm), flat, pointed tips, light green to blue-green color. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Features a membranous ligule and no auricles. Leaves and sheaths are typically hairy.
Root System
Fibrous and shallow root system with stolons that root at the nodes when in contact with damp soil. Fast-establishing from seed in spring.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and temperate Asia; now naturalized worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and spreading; prostrate to ascending stems that root at the lower nodes, forming a loose, sprawling mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and thrives in hot, dry, compacted soils. Moderate water needs, but highly drought-dormant tolerant.
Mowing & Maintenance
High maintenance if trying to eradicate; tolerates low mowing by spreading horizontally. Managed best via pre-emergent herbicides, proper turf density, and high mowing heights (3+ inches).
Special Characteristics
Exceptional heat and drought tolerance during summer; highly aggressive weed that invades thin turf; poor wear tolerance under heavy foot traffic; dies completely with freezing temperatures.
Ecological Information
Introduced invasive weed in North America. Provides minimal forage value for livestock and seeds are eaten by some ground-feeding birds. Competes aggressively with desirable turfgrasses in disturbed soils.