Summer annual, having a prostrate or ascending growth habit, with leaves and sheaths that do not have hairs and stems that do not root at the nodes. Found throughout the United States. Seedlings are upright, leaves are rolled in the bud, and the first leaf blade is lanceolate to linear.
Sheaths are without hairs and closed, with hairs in the collar region only.
Ligules are 1-2 mm long, membranous with even margins. Leaves and sheaths may turn dark red or maroon with age. Fibrous root system. Additionally, smooth crabgrass does not root at the nodes like large crabgrass.