Poaceae
Jamaican crabgrass
Digitaria horizontalis
Also known as Panicum horizontale, Paspalum oxyanthum, Panicum hamiltonii, Digitaria setosa
Zones 4–9Sun Partial SunWater ModerateCare Low
Tropical Plants · Native Plants · Grass · Tropical · Ground-Cover · Part-Shade · Low-Maintenance · Perennial · Ornamental-Grass · Warm-Climate
Pet-safeBeginner-friendlyTropicalAttracts pollinators
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 10/21/2026
This tropical grass thrives in partial shade with regular watering during growing season. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings and protect from frost. Best suited for warm climate gardens or as an annual in cooler regions.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply when soil surface is dry · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 2.5 ft
- Spread
- 18 in
- Spacing
- 6 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Aldabra, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Is.
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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