Goosegrass
Eleusine indica · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (no specific named cultivars for turf weed)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 11 as a summer annual.
About This Grass
A coarse, tufted annual grass with characteristically flattened, whitish stems at the base. Grows prostrate to ascending, often forming tight mats in compacted soils. Height reaches 1 to 2 feet when flowering. Produces distinct finger-like (digitately arranged) seed head spikes resembling a zipper.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-to-coarse (3-8 mm wide), flat or folded, with pointed tips and a medium-green to dark-green color. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a jagged, membranous fringe. Auricles are absent. The stem bases are distinctly flattened and often whitish or pale green.
Root System
Extremely tough, deep, fibrous root system that anchors the plant firmly in compacted soils, making it difficult to pull up by hand. Fast establishing from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical Asia/Old World, now widespread globally as a weed in temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with a notably flattened, sprawling, or decumbent base
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and thrives in high temperatures. Tolerates very dry conditions once established but frequently invades over-watered or compacted lawns. Prefers compacted, poorly drained soils with neutral to slightly acidic pH.
Mowing & Maintenance
Hard to control via mowing because its flat growth habit allows blades to pass underneath without cutting. High maintenance weed; requires pre-emergent herbicides and aerating to relieve soil compaction.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional tolerance to heavy foot traffic, soil compaction, and low mowing heights. Poor disease and insect resistance as a weed, but notoriously difficult to eradicate from turf due to its tough crown and flat growth.
Ecological Information
Introduced weed in North America. Provides minimal wildlife value compared to native grasses. Acts as an indicator species for severely compacted soils. Can become invasive in agricultural fields, turfgrass, and urban landscapes.