Galleta Grass

$49.00
  • Scientific name: Pleuraphis jamesii
  • Adapted to a wide variety of soils
  • Used in the arid, harsh desert areas of the southwest
  • Favored reclamation species in poor soil conditions
  • Important in conservation projects with heavy foot traffic
  • Excellent drought tolerance

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Galleta seed is in very short supply or completely out of stock in the seed industry. It is not anticipated to be available until fall 2023. Please consider our Santa Fe Trail mix as an alternate, which has Galleta Grass as a component. 

Galleta Grass, also known as James Galena (Pleuraphis jamesii) is a native perennial, warm season grass with strong rhizomes. It is commonly found growing as a bunchgrass. It greens up in early summer if rains are adequate. Growth is dependent on precipitation.

Galleta is widespread throughout southern California, the desert mountains of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, southern Wyoming, and western Texas. Also common in the panhandle of Oklahoma and in extreme southwest Kansas. It is adapted to a wide variety of soils but prefers neutral to moderately alkaline soils with low water holding capacity and coarse loamy texture. It is also adapted to fine textured soils, often found on clay soils where other grasses are rare. Commonly found between 3,500 and 7,500 feet elevation in 5-16 inch annual precipitation zones.

Galleta is adapted to a wide variety of soils but prefers neutral to moderately alkaline soils with low water holding capacity and coarse loamy texture. It is also adapted to fine textured soils, often found on clay soils where other grasses are rare. Galleta is commonly found between 3,500 and 7,500 feet elevation in 5-16 inch annual precipitation zones.

Galleta grass (Pleuraphis jamesii) is commonly used in the arid, harsh areas of in the intermountain west and desert southwest as a reclamation species, especially when sowing is in poor soil conditions. Galleta can be used for conservation ground cover on areas that have heavy foot traffic (campgrounds, picnic areas, and roadsides) because it can handle trampling. Galleta is a desirable forage plant for cattle, horses and sheep during active plant growth in late spring and early summer. Palatability is moderate during active growth, unpalatable during dormant periods.

Uses

Galleta can also be used for conservation ground cover on areas that have heavy foot traffic (campgrounds, picnic areas, and roadsides) because it can handle trampling. It is an excellent plant for erosion control on semi-desert sites (Pratt, et al., 2002).

Galleta is a desirable forage plant for cattle, horses and sheep during active plant growth in late spring and early summer. Palatability is rated as moderate during active growth and relatively unpalatable during dormant periods. Sheep typically feed upon central portions of galleta tufts, leaving the coarser growth around the outer edges. It is used to some extent by deer and antelope. Desert bighorn sheep of the Mojave Desert utilize galleta as forage.

Galleta is found in the pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine  habitat types and in the conifer woodland-grassland transition zones, and plains grasslands in the southwest and also in northern desert-shrub plant communities.

Helpful Links

Additional information about this product can be found on the academic websites linked below.

Synonyms

Many plants have more than one common and scientific name. We've listed a few of them below.

  • Galleta Grass
  • Pleuraphis rigida Thurber
  • Hilaria (Pleuraphis) jamesii

Who is Great Basin Seed?

Great Basin Seed is a seed company that specializes in seed sales and consultation for home, ranch, farm, range and reclamation. We have been a leader in the seed industry since 1974.

Our History

We've been in the seed business since 1974.

What We Offer

We offer seed for home, farm, ranch, range and reclamation projects.

Meet the Gang

We have the best employees in the world! We are proud of the work they do, and trust them to serve you!

Right: Company founder Lloyd and his wife Paula Stevens in a wildflower seed production field circa 1977

Quick Plant Facts
Common Name:

Curly Grass, Galleta Grass, James' galleta, Jim's Laughing Grass

Scientific Name:

Old Scientific Name:

Lifespan:

Origin:

Plant Type:

Seed Count

160,000

Growth Height:

Root Form

Bunchgrass/Sodformer

Sowing Rate

2-6 PLS lbs. per Acre (double for erosion control)

Min. Precipitation

6 Inches Minimum

Best Time to Sow:

Sun & Shade Tolerance:

Full Sun, Shade Intolerant

Available Varieties:

Hardiness Zones:

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