Digitaria gracillima Plant Care
Digitaria gracillima Fernald
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Digitaria gracillima, commonly referred to as longleaf crabgrass, is a rare species of crabgrass endemic to Florida in the US.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
65–85°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Digitaria gracillima?
Water Digitaria gracillima every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 65–85°F (18–29°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Digitaria gracillima Native To?
What Is the Digitaria gracillima?
Digitaria gracillima (Digitaria gracillima) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Digitaria genus. Digitaria gracillima is native to Florida in the US.
Digitaria gracillima displays an upright, spreading grass growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Digitaria gracillima produces small inconspicuous flowers on tall spikes.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Digitaria gracillima?
Digitaria gracillima requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Digitaria gracillima Need?
Digitaria gracillima thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Digitaria gracillima Prefer?
Digitaria gracillima grows best at temperatures of 65–85°F. Digitaria gracillima prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
65–85°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Digitaria gracillima?
Well-draining sandy loam with good fertility. Good drainage is essential for Digitaria gracillima to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Digitaria gracillima?
Feed Digitaria gracillima every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Digitaria gracillima?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Digitaria gracillima?
Digitaria gracillima can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to digitaria californica plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Digitaria gracillima Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Digitaria gracillima, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Digitaria gracillima?
Digitaria gracillima is susceptible to aphids, grasshoppers, armyworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Digitaria gracillima Need?
Digitaria gracillima grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Digitaria gracillima is native to Florida in the US. In cooler regions, grow Digitaria gracillima as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Digitaria gracillima is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Digitaria genus — compare its care with other Digitaria species on PlantoScan.
Digitaria is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
Digitaria gracillima thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Digitaria Species
Other Digitaria species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Digitaria gracillima Fernald, family Poaceae (first published in Rhodora 22: 101 (1920)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Digitaria gracillima, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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