Smooth tree pear is an upright cactus with smooth, glossy oval-shaped stems. It forms dense infestations and has sharp spines that can injure 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
Smooth tree pear is an invasive spiny cactus. The spines can:
Dense thickets of smooth tree pear restrict the movement of animals and people, so that:
Smooth tree pear also:
Smooth tree pear is an upright cactus up to 6 m tall though usually only 2 – 3 m. The stems have an obvious drooping appearance. It sometimes has a short woody trunk with clusters of large spines up to 10 cm long. Smooth pear tree leaves are very small and drop off, so are rarely seen.
Pads (also called stems or cladodes) are:
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.
Smooth tree pear plants can vary naturally in colour, shape and size. Some of these forms and varieties are intentionally selected and cultivated by collectors, growers and sellers.
The biosecurity duty applies to all variations and forms. They must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale.
Smooth tree pear looks similar to the following weed speed species:
Smooth tree pear grows from coastal NSW to the Western region.
It is native to South America.
Smooth tree pear mostly grows in subtropical, semi-arid and warmer temperate climates. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types though it is often found on sandy soils including coastal dunes. It grows in pastures, open woodlands, waterways, roadsides, railways and coastal areas.
Birds and other animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds in their droppings.
Stems can break off the plant and be distributed by animals, vehicles or moving water. Immature fruit will also grow into new plants.
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.
Lim, T. K. (2012). Opuntia monacantha. In Edible Medicinal and Non-medicinal Plants (pp. 683-686). Springer, Dordrecht.
Parsons, W. T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. CSIRO publishing.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 5 May 2021 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Opuntia~monacantha
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 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.
To manage smooth tree pear:
Do not grow smooth tree pear 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.
Dig up small or isolated plants using a mattock or other tools. Wear appropriate protective clothing and gloves to protect against injuries.
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.
Dispose of smooth tree pear plants by burying at least 1 m deep or by burning in a hot fire. Contact your local council for information about other disposal options.
The cochineal Dactylopius ceylonicus provides good control of smooth tree pear. It takes several years to kill plants. Control is slower in areas with high rainfall.
Felling plants over 2 m tall and stacking the cut segments after the cochineal has established will speed up control.
There are several species and linages of cochineal insects that look similar, but they each control different cacti. It is important to use the right species of cochineal for each species of cactus. Contact your local council weeds officer for information about using cochineal to control smooth tree cactus. The cactoblastis moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) and soft rot pathogens (e.g. Phyllosticta concava) attack smooth tree pear and limit growth but do not control it.
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 L per 60 L of diesel.
Comments: Apply as an overall spray, 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
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 500 mL in 100 L of water
Comments: Apply to actively growing plants. 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 per 60 L of diesel
Comments: Apply as thorough foliage spray.
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