[6] The narrow leaf blades are up to 7 centimeters long, usually hairless, and green to blue-green in color.

[3] This species is similar to southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris), but with fewer, narrower inflorescence branches.

It is also similar to bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), but with shorter, wider leaves which are more blue in color.

It also produces seeds, which can be spread in the dung of grazing cattle and remain viable in the soil.

), pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi), Australian jointvetch (Aeschynomene falcata), Brazilian stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis), lotononis (Lotononis bainesii), round-leaf cassia (Chamaecrista rotundifolia), and white clover (Trifolium repens).

[3] Pathogens seen in this grass include grey mould[3] and the digitaria striate mosaic virus, a mastrevirus of the family Geminiviridae which is transmitted by the leafhopper Nesoclutha pallida.

[9][10] Digitaria swazilandensis (swazi grass, Swaziland fingergrass) is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of D.