Klein’s cholla (Cylindropuntia kleiniae)

Also known as: Klein's pencil cactus

Klein's cholla is a shrubby spiny cactus up to 2.5 m tall. The spines can injure people and animals, and dense thickets become prickly barriers to people and animals.

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How does this weed affect you?

Klein's cholla is an invasive spiny cactus that can:

• injure people, livestock, working dogs and pets
• injure and sometimes kill wildlife that gets trapped amongst the spines
• devalue wool and hides and prevent shearing when stuck in wool.

Dense thickets of this cactus restrict the movement of animals and people, so that:

• livestock cannot access feed
• mustering is difficult
• access to watering points is reduced
• recreation such as bushwalking or bird watching is restricted.
  
  

What does it look like?

Klein's cholla is a scraggly, shrub cactus up to 2.5 m tall. Plants are openly branched, and large plants have trunks.

Stems (pads or cladodes) are:

• green
• up to 32 cm long and 1.2 cm wide  
• cylindrical with a pattern of prominent oval-shaped bumps called tubercles (1-2.5 cm long)
• usually alternate.

Cacti pads have a small, oval shaped areole on top of each tubercle. Barbed bristles (glochids), spines, leaves, flowers, fruit, roots and new shoots all grow out of the areoles.

Areoles:

• have 1-4 spines in each
• contain yellow, grey or black wool
• have yellow bristles, each 0.5–2.5 mm long

Spines are:

• straight to slightly arched
• yellow or grey with a yellow tip
• up to 3 cm long.

Flowers are:

• pink, red or reddish bronze
• 15–25 mm long
• present from spring to summer.

Fruit are:

• green, ripening to red or orange
• oval or cylindrical
• 13–34 mm wide and  10–20 mm long
• spineless
• can form chains.

Similar looking plants

Kleins cholla looks similar to Pencil cactus (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis), which has shorter stems (2-8 cm long) and greenish yellow flowers.

Where is it found?

In NSW, it has naturalised in the Western and North West regions.

Klein's cholla is a native plant in South America and Mexico.

What type of environment does it grow in?

In NSW, Klein’s cholla grows in disturbed shrublands and Eucalyptus woodlands.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Klein’s cholla during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  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?

Plant parts

New plants can grow from parts of the stem when they come in contact with the soil. Stem fragments can be spread by flood water and by people dumping garden waste.

By seed

It is not known if the seed is viable in Australia.

References

Harvey, K.J., McConnachie, A.J., Sullivan, P., Holtkamp, R. and Officer, D. (2021). Biological control of weeds: a practitioner's guide for south east Australia. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange. 

McKenzie, R. (2020). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: A guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO PUBLISHING.

Pinkava, D. J. (1999). Cactaceae Cactus family: Part three: Cylindropuntia (Engelm.) Knuth Chollas. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 32-47.

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

Sheehan, M.R. and 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 (WA), Perth. 

More information

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Control

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

Wear protective clothing to avoid injuries from the sharp spines and when using herbicides.

Prevention

Avoid driving through areas with cacti. If you have been in an area with cacti, check under vehicles, caravans, and machinery before leaving the infested area. Remove all plant parts using pliers or tongs. Dispose of them appropriately.

Disposal

Dispose of Klein’s cactus by burying it at least one metre deep or by burning in a hot fire. Contact your local council for more 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 spines or bristles.

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

Biological control

Biological control is suitable for areas that are environmentally sensitive, too difficult to access or where other methods would be too expensive. Cochineal insects are less effective on scattered infestations and may require further redistribution at these sites.

The cochineal bug Dactylopius tormentosus provides good control of Klein’s cholla.

There are several species of cochineal that look very similar. It is important to use the correct species of cochineal bugs for each species of cactus. Contact your local council weeds officer for information about using cochineal to control Klein’s cholla.

Chemical control

Herbicides are especially useful for sparse, scattered infestations. Spray actively growing plants. Cover all parts of the plant with herbicide. Check treated plants regularly 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: Follow the label instructions as per Prickly pear (common), smooth tree pear. Spray actively growing plants. Thoroughly cover all of the plant with herbicide mix to the point of runoff. 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 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water.
Comments: Follow the label instructions as per prickly pear common. To improve uptake of 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 L per 75 L of diesel
Comments: Follow the label instructions as per common prickly pear (Opuntia spp.). Spray actively growing plants. Thoroughly cover all of the plant.
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed. If use is off-label check permit.
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 L per 100 L of water.
Comments: Follow the label instructions as per common prickly pear (Opuntia spp.). Spray actively growing plants. Thoroughly cover all of the plant to the point of runoff. To improve uptake, add a paraffinic oil at the rate of 500 mL per 100 L of water.
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed. If use is off-label check permit.
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 NSW 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. All species in the Cylindropuntia genus have this requirement
Central Tablelands	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. All species in the Cylindropuntia genus have this requirement except Rope pear Cylindropuntia imbricata.
Central West	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Notify local control authority if found. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant.
Murray	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
	*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