Indian fig (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Also known as: prickly pear, spineless cactus

Indian fig is a tree-like cactus up to 7 m tall. It is grown for its edible fruit.

Biosecurity duty

This weed belongs to the group Prickly pears - Opuntias

Profile

How does this weed affect you?

Indian fig is grown commercially for its fruit. It sometimes escapes from cultivation and may compete with other plants. Indian fig spreads slowly and is easily eradicated.

Although usually spineless, plants may have long sharp spines which can injure people and animals.

What does it look like?

Indian fig is a large tree-like cactus that often has a trunk. It grows up to 7 m tall.

Pads (also called stems or cladodes) are:

bluish green
oval shaped and flattened
30–50 cm long and 10–20 cm wide
usually spineless.

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

Spines are:

usually absent but there may be up to 9 per areole
up to 4.1 cm long
white to pale yellow.

Bristles are

yellow or yellow brown
up to 3 mm long
not present on older pads.

Flowers are:

bright yellow
7–10 cm wide
present from late spring to summer.

Fruit are:

yellow, orange, red or purple when ripe (depending on cultivar)
5–9 cm long
egg or barrel shaped with a depressed top.

Similar looking plants

Indian fig looks similar to:

Velvet tree pear (Opuntia tomentosa), which has hairy pads, and orange flowers.
Smooth tree pear (Opuntia monacantha), which has shiny, dark-green pads that often droop and a very spiny trunk.
Common pear (Opuntia stricta), which is much shorter than Indian fig (up to 2 m) and has smaller pads (up to 25 cm long).

Where is it found?

In NSW, Indian fig plants have been found growing in the Greater Sydney, Hunter, Murray, Northern Tablelands, Riverina, South East and Western regions.

It is thought to be native to southern parts of the United States of America.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Indian fig prefers sandy, loamy, well-drained soil. It grows:

in bushland and scrublands
amongst coastal vegetation including on sand dunes
in grasslands.

Most infestations are near urban areas close to cultivated plants.

How does it spread?

By seed

Indian fig produces viable seeds in Australia. The seeds can be spread by birds and other animals.

By plant parts

Indian fig can regrow from stem fragments. These can be spread by animals, vehicles, water and people dumping garden waste.

References

Identic Pty Ltd. and Lucid central (2016). Weeds of Australia Fact sheet: Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Retrieved: 19 September 2024 from: https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/opuntia_ficusindica.htm

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System) NSW Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney .Retrieved 19 September 2024 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Opuntia~ficus-indica

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

VicFlora (2024). Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved: 19 September 2024 from: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/5d813169-20fd-410f-99a8-0b307cdb51ea

More information

Control

Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth and new plants.

Prevention

To help prevent the spread of Indian fig, pick all of the fruit on cultivated plants so it is not spread by birds.

Physical removal

By hand

Dig up small plants or seedlings in isolated infestations. Wear appropriate protective clothing and gloves to protect against injuries from spines if present.

By machine

Dense infestations or large plants may be controlled by machinery if the site is not environmentally sensitive. Dig out all of the roots. Dispose of all plant parts to avoid regrowth. Clean plant fragments from the machinery before leaving the site.

Disposal

Dispose of Indian fig 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.

Biological control

Biological control agents are useful for dense infestations. Dactylopius opuntiae ‘ficus' lineage, a cochineal insect can effectively control Indian fig.

Biological control is suitable for areas that are environmentally sensitive, too difficult to access or where other methods of control would be too expensive. Cochineal insects are less effective on scattered infestations and may require redistribution from plant to plant at these sites. 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 council weeds officer for information about using cochineal to control Indian fig.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

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

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au

See Using herbicides for more information.

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). Spray actively growing plants. Thoroughly cover all of the plant to the point of runoff. To improve uptake add a paraffinic spraying oil at the rate of 500 mL per 100 L of water. Follow-up may be needed.
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 L per 60 L of diesel or biodiesel
Comments: Apply as an overall spray, wetting all the plant to ground level. Follow label instructions as per "Cacti including: Common pest pear.....Tree pear"
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 per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray actively growing plants. Follow the label instructions as per prickly pear common. To improve uptake, add a 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 per 60 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

Triclopyr 600 g/L (Garlon® 600)
Rate: 3L per 100L 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 spraying 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

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.

For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2025