Jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera)

Jumping cholla is a spiny cactus up to 2 m tall with pink or reddish purple flowers and green fruit. It forms dense thickets that outcompete native vegetation and pasture plants.

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How does this weed affect you?

Jumping cholla forms dense thickets that outcompete low growing native plants and prevent movement of animals and people. This means that:

• livestock may not be able to access feed 
• mustering is difficult
• access to watering points is reduced
• recreational activities such as bushwalking and camping are restricted.

Jumping cholla has sharp spines that can:

• cause painful injuries to people, livestock, working dogs and pets
• injure and sometimes kill wildlife that get trapped in the spines
• devalue wool and hides and prevent shearing
• get stuck around the mouths of lambs or calves and prevent them from feeding.

What does it look like?

Jumping cholla is an erect cactus shrub up to 2 m high.

Stems (pads or cladodes) are:

• cylindrical with a pattern of prominent oval-shaped bumps (up to 2.5 cm long) called tubercles
• grey green
• up to 15 cm long and 5 cm in diameter
• easily detached. 

 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:

• are oval shaped
• are up to 7 mm long and 5 mm wide
• have small barbed bristles
• have 6-12 spines in each.

Spines are:

• up to 2 cm long
• light to dark brown
• covered in a white to brownish sheath.

Bristles (glochids) are:

• 0.5–2.5 mm long
• yellow to white
• clustered in a crescent on one side of the areole and sparse around the edges of the areole

Flowers are:

• reddish purple or pinkish
• 4 cm wide
• present spring–summer.

Fruit are:

• green
• 2–4 cm long and 2–3 cm wide
• shaped like a top
• sometimes joined to form short chains (up to 5 fruit long).

Similar species

Jumping cholla looks similar to:

• Snake cactus (Cylindropuntia spinosior) which has yellow, rather than green, ripe fruit and longer thinner stems (up to 24 cm long and 3 cm in diameter).

Where is it found?

Jumping cholla plants have been found around Lightning Ridge in the North West and in the Broken Hill area in the Western region. 

It is native to southern California, USA and Mexico.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Jumping cholla usually grows in hot arid or semi-arid areas with subtropical climates. In Australia plants are often found on rocky hillsides.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Jumping 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

Plants have spread by people planting them in gardens.

New plants can grow from stems or parts of stems in contact with the soil. The joints of jumping cholla are weak and stems break easily. Plants can also regrow from fallen fruit. These plant parts can be spread by:

• water
• strong wind
• sticking to animals including livestock and kangaroos
• sticking to vehicles
• people dumping garden waste.

By seed

Seed production is rare in Australia and it is not known if the seeds are viable.

References

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

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 13 August 2024 from https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Cylindropuntia~prolifera

Queensland Government (2024). Jumping cholla Cylindropuntia prolifera Fact Sheet. Retrieved 13 August 2024 from https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/ec44158d-1251-4def-b9a1-40779c301fc1/jumping-cholla.pdf?ETag=ba0bd88d225b584962458c3364792e63

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.

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

To prevent the spread of jumping cholla do not grow it 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 jumping cholla by burying all parts of the plant at least one metre deep or by burning them 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 spines and bristles.

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

Biological control

A cochineal bug, (Dactylopius tomentosus ‘Californica var. parkeri’ lineage) provides good control of jumping cholla. There are several species of Dactylopius that look similar but they each control different species of cactus. It is important to use the correct type of cochineal for each species of cactus. Contact your local weeds officer for information about using cochineal to control jumping cholla.

Chemical control

Spray actively growing plants and 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: 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