A low growing (3 to 20 inches tall), rather coarse grass, growing as an open sod or in small bunches. Spreads by rhizomes and seeds. Seed spikes are purplish to straw-colored, and usually flower in the spring. Leave blades are narrow, and soft green turning to straw when dry or dormant. Use for a meadow or informal lawn area; mixes well with side and blue grama, sand dropseed, and buffalograss for a low-water lawn. A warm-season grass, it is dormant during the cooler parts of the spring, fall, and of course, during the winter. A Utah native.
Galleta will grow in a variety of soils, from coarse to fine, and even clay soils. It tolerates heavy foot traffic and a lot of trampling. Spreads through rhizomes and seed. Mowable, but set the mower as high as possible, ideally between 4 to 6 inches. According to USU, it provides excellent erosion control for in semi-desert conditions. Syn. with Hilaria jamesii. Full sun.