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Prickly pear

Photo of the Prickly Pear Historical

Prickly pear

Photo of the Prickly Pear

Prickly pear



General information

Prickly pear (Opuntia spp. other than O. ficus-indica) is a general term used to describe some plants of the Cactaceae family. The term includes species of Opuntia, Nopalea, and Acanthocereus. All of these plants originate in the Americas.

This plant was introduced into pastoral districts in the 1840s and by 1925 it had invaded over 24 million ha in Queensland and New South Wales.

Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) is a declared Class 1 plant under Queensland legislation. O. ficus-indica is not declared. O. Stricta, O. aurantiaca, O. monacantha, O. tomentosa and O. streptacantha species are Class 2 declared pest plants.

Scientific name Opuntia spp. other than O. ficus-indica
Impacts
  • invades pastures
  • vigorous in hot, dry conditions causing other plants to lose vigour or die
Description
  • leafless succulent shrub
  • has spiny and pear-shaped fruit
  • stems are divided into segments (pads or joints)
  • flowers are large and vary from yellow, orange, red, pink, purple to white seen during spring
  • fruits vary from red, purple, orange, yellow to green
Habitat and distribution
  • is spread by birds and animals eating the fruit and excreting viable seed
  • infestations covered 4 million ha by 1900, 24 million ha by 1920 and advances at a rate of 400,000 ha per year
Control
  • nine established insects and one mite biological control agents established in Queensland
  • fire is an effective control method for dense prickly pear infestations
  • a combined approach of different control methods including biological, mechanical and herbicide integrated with land management practices is most effective
  • see the prickly pear identification and control fact sheet for further information
Declaration details

  • Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) is a declared Class 1 plant under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. O. ficus-indica is not declared. O. Stricta, O. aurantiaca, O. monacantha, O. tomentosa and O. streptacantha species are Class 2 declared pest plants

  • control of declared pests is required by landholders

Further information

Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 04 December 2008
URL: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7343_ENA_HTML.htm

© The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 1995 - 2009.
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