Goosegrass
Grassy weed
Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) is a tough, warm-season annual grass that shows up in lawns, gardens, and cropland across most of the United States. Gardeners and growers notice it because it forms dense, flat mats that crowd out desirable plants and because it is notoriously hard to pull once established. It is sometimes called silver crabgrass or wiregrass.
How to identify it
Goosegrass grows low and spreads outward from a central point, forming a flattened rosette that presses against the soil. Its most telling feature is the base of the plant, where the folded stems are silvery white to light green, giving it a whitish center that stands out against darker grass. The leaf blades are smooth to sparsely hairy, folded along the midrib, and grow from stems that are noticeably flattened. Seedheads rise on stalks topped by two to seven finger-like spikes, and the seeds sit in two rows that give each spike a zipper-like look; the plant has a strong, fibrous, wiry root system.
Where it grows
Goosegrass favors compacted, poorly drained, or heavily used ground such as garden paths, driveway edges, sports fields, thin lawns, and the worn strips along sidewalks. It germinates later in spring than many weeds, waking up as soil warms, and it grows actively through the heat of summer before dying back with frost. It reproduces only by seed, and a single plant can produce thousands of seeds that remain viable in the soil for years, so disturbed and bare soil is quickly recolonized.
Why it is a problem
Because it grows in dense mats, goosegrass competes aggressively with turf, vegetables, and young crops for water, light, and nutrients, thinning stands and reducing yields. Its heavy seed production means a few overlooked plants can seed a large area for future seasons. It is especially troublesome in compacted, high-traffic spots where desirable grasses struggle, letting the weed take over the openings.
How to manage it
The best long-term control is preventing the compaction and thin turf that goosegrass exploits, so relieve compaction by aerating, improve drainage, and maintain a dense, healthy stand of desirable plants that shades the soil surface. Hand pull or hoe young plants before they set seed, ideally when the soil is moist so more of the stubborn root comes out, and bag any seedheads rather than composting them. A layer of organic mulch in garden beds and along borders blocks light and greatly reduces germination on bare ground. In lawns, mow at the taller end of the recommended range for your grass and avoid scalping, since a thick, tall canopy keeps the soil cooler and shaded and discourages new seedlings.
Commonly confused with
Goosegrass is most often confused with crabgrass, but crabgrass roots along its stems at the nodes and lacks the silvery-white folded base, while goosegrass stays anchored at one point and shows that pale center. It can also be mistaken for young stands of other summer grasses before its distinctive flattened, whitish base and zipper-like seedheads develop.
General guidance for US lawns and gardens, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed identification and options specific to your area, contact your local Cooperative Extension office. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.