Southern Crabgrass
Digitaria ciliaris
- Native to:
- Aldabra, Algeria, Angola, Ascension, Azores, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf States, Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazan-retto, Kenya, Korea, Kuril Is., Kuwait, Laccadive Is., Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaya, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Ogasawara-shoto, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Rodrigues, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Uganda, United States, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zimbabwe
iNaturalist: © naturalistchu (iNaturalist #133728835)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Digitaria
- Species:
- Digitaria ciliaris
- USDA Symbol:
- DICI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), changeable grass-veneer (Fissicrambus mutabilis), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra), Green Cutworm (Anicla infecta), Leucania latiuscula, Small Mocis Moth (Mocis latipes), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth (Trichordestra legitima), 🛑Georgia Satyr (Neonympha areolata), Indian Skipper (Hesperia sassacus), southern broken dash (Wallengrenia otho)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Common in disturbed areas and roadsides
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Germinates readily in warm soil temperatures above 15°C. Light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI