Common pear is a cactus up to 2 m tall with yellow flowers and purplish red fruit. It forms dense infestations, which outcompete pasture grasses and native plants and restrict movement of people and animals.
This weed belongs to the group Prickly pears - Opuntias
This plant is a Weed of National Significance
This plant must not be sold anywhere in NSW
Common pear can outcompete other plants and form dense infestations. It:
Common pear sometimes has spines that can:
Common pear is also a host plant for fruit flies and provides harbour for pests including foxes and rabbits.
Common pear is an upright, spreading cactus usually less than 1.5 m tall but occasionally up to 2 m. The leaves are reduced to scales 3–4 mm long and they drop off when plants are young.
There are two varieties (var.) in NSW:
Cacti pads have bumps on the surface called areoles. Spines, barbed bristles (glochids), leaves, flowers, fruit, roots and new shoots all grow out of the areoles.
Roots are shallow and fibrous.
Common pear looks similar to:
In NSW, common pear is mostly found in the North West, Central West and Hunter regions. However it has been present across all regions in NSW. It was introduced to NSW in the 1830s. In the early 1900s, it had invaded 25,000,000 hectares of northern NSW and Queensland.
It is native to southeastern parts of North America, the east coast of Mexico, northern South America, Cuba, Bahamas and Bermuda.
Common pear can grow in tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and semi-arid climates. It tolerates full sun and shade. It grows in a wide range of soil types including saline soils, sand, loams and heavy clays. It can grow:
Common pear produces an average of 110 seeds per fruit and the seeds can remain viable for up to 15 years. Fruit are eaten by birds, foxes and other animals and seeds are spread in their droppings.
Common pear can regrow from stem fragments, flowers and immature fruits. Stem segments can be spread by animals, vehicles, water or wind and quickly take root. Dumping of unwanted plants causes new outbreaks.
Harvey, K.J., McConnachie, A.J. Sullivan, P. Holtkamp, R. & Officer, D. (2021). Biological control of weeds: a practitioner's guide for south east Australia. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange.
Parsons, W.T. and Cuthbertson, E.G. (2001). Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 19 November 2021 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Opuntia~stricta
Reyes-Agüero, J. A., & Valiente-Banuet, A. (2006). Reproductive biology of Opuntia: A review. Journal of arid environments, 64(4), 549-585.
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.
Successful weed control relies on 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.
To manage common pear:
To help prevent the spread of common pear:
Dispose of common pear plant parts by burying at least one metre deep or burning in a hot fire. Contact your local council for information about other disposal options.
Dig up small or isolated plants using a mattock or other tools. Wear appropriate protective clothing and gloves to protect against injuries from spines or bristles.
Dense infestations or large isolated plants can be removed with machinery where there is good access to the site, the site is not environmentally sensitive and plant parts can be safely disposed of. Ensure the roots are dug out and that all plant parts are disposed of.
There are two successful biological control agents for common pear:
In the early 1900 the infestations of common pear were so bad that many farms had been abandoned. The cochineal bug was released in 1921 and had some impact. The cactoblastis moth was released in Australia in 1926. By 1932 it had successfully controlled common pear on 25 million ha of land in New South Wales and Queensland and the controlled land was able to be farmed again.
The cactoblastis moth is now widespread and does not need to be redistributed. To help attract the moths to a site, cut and stack the pads in a pile about 2m x 2m and 1 m high in spring or summer. The moths will multiply quickly in the stack. . Heavy rain or cold weather will slow down control by the moth, so it is best to make the stacks and transfer the infested cladodes in spring or summer. Avoid transferring the moths when there is likely to be heavy rainfall.
The cochineal bug is suitable for redistribution and in many areas control can be faster if cochineal bugs are used as well as moths. The cochineal bug gives better control than the cactoblastis moth in cool regions of NSW and in hot dry regions where the pads dry out.
There are several species of cochineal that look similar but they each control different species of cactus. It is important to use the right species of cochineal for each species of cactus. Contact your local weeds officer for information about using cochineal to control common pear.
Herbicides are especially useful for sparse, scattered infestations. Spray actively growing plants. Cover all parts of the plant with herbicide to the point of visible wetness. Check treated plants and control new growth.
See Using herbicides for more information.
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 500 mL in 100 L of water
Comments: 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 e.g. Uptake®, Titan Paraffin or Apparent Paraffinic spraying 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
Triclopyr 240 g/L + Picloram 120 g/L
(Access™ )
Rate: 1.0 L in 60 L of diesel (or biodiesel such as Biosafe).
Comments: Apply as an overall spray, wetting all areas of the plant to ground level. See label for information about using biodiesel.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 500 mL in 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray application. Spray actively growing plants. To improve uptake, add a paraffinic oil e.g. Uptake®, Titan Paraffin or Apparent Paraffinic spraying 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
Triclopyr 600 g/L
(Garlon® 600)
Rate: 800 mL in 60 L of diesel
Comments: Spray actively growing plants. Thoroughly cover all of the plant.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 600 g/L
(Garlon® 600)
Rate: 3.0 L in 100 L of water
Comments: Spray actively growing plants. Thoroughly cover all of the plant to the point of runoff. To improve uptake, add a paraffinic oil e.g. Uptake®, Titan Paraffin or Apparent Paraffinic spraying 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
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 |
Reviewed 2023