Kinds of Crabgrass

Large Crabgrass

• The common crabgrass in the U.S. is the Digitaria Sanguinalis, or large crabgrass. The summer annual grows from Canada to Texas. Large crabgrass invades lawns and disturbs the growth of cultivated grass. The crabgrass has 1- to 8-inch-long hairy blades and spiked flowers. The grass spreads via seeds and nodes that become firmly embedded in the soil.

Smooth Crabgrass:

• Smooth crabgrass (Digitaria Ischaemum) has smooth blades, unlike the large crabgrass. The grass grows to a height of 6 inches. The grass starts producing seed when it reaches 1/4 inch tall. Its leaves appear light green and make invasive light green patches on lawns. The grass flowers from August to September and propagates only by seed.

Tropical Crabgrass

• Digitaria Bicornis, also called tropical or Asian crabgrass, grows in summer. The grass propagates by rooting at the nodes. The seed heads germinate in early spring. The grass differs from other crabgrass species, as the seed head branches all join the stem at the same point.

Southern Crabgrass

• Southern crabgrass grows in many states. including Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska. The grass has dense hairs in the sheath and reproduces by seed. The summer annual grass roots at the nodes. Southern crabgrass grows in warm, temperate climates all over the world.

African Couch Grass

• Digitaria Abyssinica, or African Couch Grass, is a perennial that grows to a height of 30 cm. The grass grows in Hawaii in the U.S. The grass makes a good foraging plant. In plantation regions of Africa the grass becomes an invasive weed. African couch grass cultivated on slopes helps in controlling erosion.

Caribbean Crab Grass

• Caribbean crab grass ( Digitaria Dolichophylla) grows in abundance in Florida. This perennial grass is native to the U.S.

Indian Crabgrass

• Indian Crabgrass (Digitaria Longiflora) grows in the states of Wisconsin, Florida and Maryland. The invasive plant makes a good foraging grass for cattle. The hairy grass grows to a height of about 9 cm.

Digitaria Eriantha

• This grass better known as Digit grass or Smuts finger grass is native to South Africa. The grass grows in Florida and California in the U.S. The drought tolerant grass makes a good foraging plant. The grass grows to a height of 150 cm.