Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys)

Also known as: yellow bunny ears, goldplush, teddy bear cactus, cacti

Bunny ears cactus has pairs of pads that are covered in tufts of golden bristles. It forms dense thickets that can outcompete other plants.

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How does this weed affect you?

Bunny ears cactus forms dense thickets and:

• outcompetes native plants
• limits movement of animals and people
• competes with pasture plants reducing productivity
• has barbed bristles which can easily detach and injure people and animals
• can restrict recreational activities such as bushwalking and camping.

Livestock health

The barbed bristles can detach easily and be blown in the wind. They can cause eye irritation or blindness in cattle.

Human health

The barbed bristles can detach easily and cause skin irritation including blisters, itching and burning. They can also cause severe irritation to eyes. 

What does it look like?

Bunny ears cactus is a branched succulent shrub that grows up to 60 cm tall. It is usually a low, creeping plant with shallow roots. The pads grow in pairs and look like a pair of rabbit ears.

Pads (also called stems or cladodes) are:

• bright green when young, pale green when older 
• 10–15 cm long and 6–12 cm wide 
• fleshy and covered in velvety hairs
• oblong to circular

Cacti pads have bumps on the surface called areoles. Barbed bristles (glochids), spines, leaves, flowers, fruit, roots and new shoots all grow out of the areoles.

Areoles:

• are 5–10 mm apart
• contain dense tufts of white, yellow to golden brown bristles each 5–10 mm long
• usually don’t have spines, though rarely there may be one.

Flowers are:

• yellow, sometimes tinged with red
• 3–5 cm in diameter
• usually on the top section of the pads on both the margins and the faces.

Fruit are:

• red to purple
• 3 cm in diameter
• round
• covered in areoles and bristles.

It is not known if bunny ear cactus produces viable seeds in Australia.

Variations and forms

There are natural variations in bunny ears cactus and some of these are intentionally selected and cultivated by collectors and growers. Opuntia microdasys form monstrosa (crazy bunny ears) has pads that are fused together and curved rather than flat. The biosecurity duty applies to all variations and forms. They must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale.

Similar looking plants

Bunny ears cactus looks similar to blind cactus (Opuntia rufida), which has reddish-brown bristles. Blind cactus is also sometimes called bunny ears cactus.

Where is it found?

In NSW, plants have been found in the North West, Greater Sydney, Riverina and Hunter regions.

Bunny ears is a native plant in northern Mexico. It was introduced into Australia as an ornamental plant.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Bunny ears cactus can tolerate a wide range of conditions. It grows best in open areas, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions and is very drought tolerant.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Bunny ears cactus during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2024)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

Bunny ears cactus has mostly been spread by people growing it as an ornamental plant. 

Plant parts

New plants can grow from parts of the stem or fruit when they come in contact with the soil. These plant parts can be spread by:

• moving water
• sticking to animals or vehicles
• people dumping garden waste.

By seed

Bunny ears produces viable seeds in its native range but is not known how much seed is viable in Australia. 

References

Mondragón-Jacobo, C., & Pérez-González, S. (2001). Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as forage. (Vol. 169). Food & Agriculture Org.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 8 July 2021 from https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Opuntia~microdasys

Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. (2020). Factsheet Restrictive Invasive Plant: Bunny ears Opuntia microdasys. QLD DAF.

Sheehan, M. R. & Potter, S. (2017). Managing Opuntioid Cacti in Australia: Best Practice Control Manual for Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia and Opuntia Species. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Smith, G. F., Figueiredo, E., Boatwright, J. S., & Crouch, N. R. (2011). South Africa's ongoing Opuntia Mill.(Cactaceae) problem: the case of Opuntia microdasys (Lehm.) Pfeiff. Bradleya, 2011(29), 73-78.

Whiting, D. A. & Bristow, J. H. (1975). Dermatitis and keratoconjunctivitis caused by a prickly pear (Opuntia microdasys). South African Medical Journal, 49(35), 1445-1446.

More information

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Control

Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new plants. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

Prevention

Do not grow bunny ears cactus in gardens or pots. Do not take cuttings of unknown cactus plants to grow out or share with others. 

Stop the spread of cactus into new areas by checking clothing, vehicles and equipment for plant parts before leaving an area that has any cactus weeds.

Disposal

Dispose of bunny ears cactus by burying it at least one metre deep or by burning in a hot fire. Contact your local council for information about other disposal options. 

Physical control

Dig up small or isolated plants using a mattock or other tools. Wear appropriate protective clothing and gloves to protect against injuries from the bristles.

Larger infestations may be removed by machinery. Ensure the roots are dug out and that all plant parts are disposed of appropriately.

Biological control

There are no biological control agents available for bunny ears cactus.

Chemical control

Spray actively growing plants. Cover all parts of the plant with herbicide. Check treated plants and control new growth.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L (Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray actively growing plants, thoroughly cover all of the plant with herbicide mix to the point of runoff. Follow the label instructions as per prickly pear (common). Regrowth may occur, so a follow-up application may be necessary. To improve uptake add a paraffinic oil at the rate of 500 mL per 100 L of water.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 240 g/L + Picloram 120 g/L (Access™ )
Rate: 1.0 L in 60 L of diesel (or biodiesel such as Biosafe).
Comments: Spray actively growing plants, wetting all areas of the plant to ground level.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray actively growing plants, thoroughly cover all of the plant. Follow the label instructions as per prickly pear (common). To improve uptake add a paraffinic oil at the rate of 500 mL per 100 L of water.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 600 g/L (Garlon® 600)
Rate: 1.0 L per 75 L of diesel.
Comments: Spray actively growing plants, thoroughly cover all of the plant. Follow the label instructions as per common prickly pear (Opuntia spp.).
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 600 g/L (Garlon® 600)
Rate: 3.0 L per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray actively growing plants, thoroughly cover all of the plant to the point of runoff. Follow the label instructions as per common prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) To improve uptake add a paraffinic oil at the rate of 500 mL per 100 L of water.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
All of NSW	Prohibition on certain dealings Must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale.
Central Tablelands	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
Central West	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
Murray	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Whole of region: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
Western	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land A person should not buy, sell, move, carry, or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2024