Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis · Warm-season, Annual, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass, Pasture/Forage Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (common weed, no distinct cultivated varieties)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10; strictly an annual completing its life cycle in one season, killed by the first hard frost
About This Grass
Forms coarse, sprawling patches of light to yellow-green foliage that stand out against finer turfgrasses; grows up to 1-2 feet tall if unmowed, typically prostrate in lawns; produces finger-like raceme seed heads in late summer
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (4-10mm wide), flat, pointed tips, light green to yellow-green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), prominent membranous ligule, distinct hairs on blades and sheaths, broad collar with membranous ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Fibrous and shallow root system with roots forming adventitiously at lower nodes of spreading stolons; rapid establishment from seed in spring, low drought tolerance in extreme dry spells (goes dormant/dies out)
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and temperate Asia; now naturalized worldwide in temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and prostrate, rooting at the lower nodes, spreading outward in a sprawling mat-forming habit
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun, cannot tolerate heavy shade; moderate to high watering needs; poor drought tolerance compared to established deep-rooted turf, thrives in moist, compacted soils with neutral to slightly acidic pH
Mowing & Maintenance
Mows down to 1.0-2.5 inches; high maintenance as a weed requiring pre-emergent herbicides, hand-pulling, or frequent mowing to prevent seed production; produces thousands of seeds per plant
Special Characteristics
High aggressive growth rate, poor wear tolerance in traffic areas, excellent at invading thin lawns, high tolerance for compacted soil and heat, produces allelopathic compounds that suppress surrounding vegetation
Ecological Information
Introduced weed in North America; provides minimal wildlife forage for grazing animals and birds eat the seeds; considered invasive in managed turfgrass settings; often acts as an indicator of thin turf, soil compaction, and overwatering