Report the presence of this pest before undertaking control
Information about this pest can be found on the opuntioid cacti: declared pest page.
Login or set up a new account on DAFWAs online training site to access:
- a training course on how to identify wheel cactus and report it.
- training material that you can use to teach community groups how to identify wheel cactus.
Control options
Biological, cultural and chemical control options can be found below.
- Download the Opuntioid cacti best practice control manual for current control recommendations.
- Report prohibited species such as wheel cactus (Opuntia robusta) before undertaking control to the Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).
- Herbicides are only effective when cacti are actively growing, that is in warm weather when plants are not under drought stress.
- Spraying cacti in cold weather is not effective.
Biological control options
Biological control options will soon be available for some species in Western Australia.
Cultural control options
Grub individual plants. Ensure that no plant segments are left as they will regenerate new root systems.
Chemical control options
Chemical requirements
When using any agricultural chemicals please ensure that you always follow instructions on the label and any permit. Users of agricultural chemical products must always strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website.
Recommended herbicides | When actively growing:Triclopyr; Triclopyr + picloram |
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Herbicide: Triclopyr (Group I) (various trade names such as GarlonTM: see APVMA link) | |
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Active ingredient | 600g/L triclopyr |
Amount of product/100L water | 3.0L |
Amount of product/100L diesel | 1.3L |
Surfactant | spray oil with a water mix is essential |
Time of application | when actively growing (spring or autumn) |
Remarks | Thorough coverage required with follow up 6 months post treatment. The mix with diesel will give superior results than the water mix. |
Herbicide: Triclopyr + picloram (Group I) (various trade names such as AccessTM: see APVMA link) | |
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Active ingredient | 240g/L triclopyr + 120g/L picloram |
Amount of product/100L diesel | 1.6L |
Time of application | when actively growing (spring or autumn) |
Remarks | Thorough coverage required with follow up 6 months post treatment. Access may damage nearby susceptible off target species. |
Herbicide: Triclopyr + picloram (Group I) (various trade names such as Grazon ExtraTM: see APVMA link) | |
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Active ingredient | 300g/L triclopyr + 100g/L picloram + 8g/L aminopyralid |
Amount of product/100L water | 1L |
Surfactant | spray oil with a water mix is essential |
Time of application | when actively growing (spring or autumn) |
Remarks | thorough coverage required with follow up 6 months post treatment |
More information | crushing the plant allows the chemical to penetrate and often gives greater control |