Boxing glove cactus

Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata

Quick facts

Status

Declared Pest / WoNS

Life Cycle

Perennial

Hazard

Spines

Growth Form

Succulent

Origin

Southern USA, Northern Mexico

Flowers

Red, Magenta

Dispersal

Attach to animals

Names

Other Common Names: Coral cactus, jumping cholla, Cholla

Synonyms: Cylindropuntia fulgida

Form and function

A tree-like, branching shrub standing up to 1.5m high. Stems have a lumpy, corrugated surface and segment into grey-green pads (cladodes). Pads are 10-22cm long and vary in shape from club-shaped to a curved, wavy shape with flattened edges, reminiscent of a boxing glove. Terminal segments are smaller and detach easily. Thorns are arranged in groups of 0-18 on each pad, growing from areolas (circular depressions) covering the pad’s surface.

Flowers

Small magenta or deep red flowers, rarely seen in Australian specimens.
Flowers are characterised by backwards-curving petals.

Pads

Needle-reduced, whorl leaves.
Colour is quite varied, with descriptions of white, grey, tan or green leaves.
"Leaves" grow from areolas on the surface of pads alternately, and do not cover the whole pad. Some literature suggests these are not true leaves, rather modified bristles.

Fruits

Fruits are oval or egg-shaped, 2.5-5cm in length and 1.5-4.5cm in diameter.
Can occasionally grow in long, pendulous strings and ‘jump’ to neighbouring plants, hence the other common name for the species - jumping cholla
Australian specimens have been found to be sterile and largely seedless.

Roots

Extensive but shallow.
Evolved to rapidly absorb rainfall from a large area.

Habitat

Semi-arid to arid areas. Desert grasslands and scrublands. Preference for loose surface soil and rocky or gravelly soil. Found in urban areas, rangelands, livestock grazing areas, and bushland. Able to grow at different elevations.

May be confused with...

Similar native species: Australia has no native cacti

Similar non-native species: C. fulgida (non-varietal form), C. imbricata, C. tunicata.

How does it spread?

In Australia, spread is caused mainly vegetatively, as most specimens are sterile (do not produce seeds.) Small segments are able to detach from the mother plant and take root where they fall or are dispersed by livestock, native fauna, machinery or vehicles. The distinctive backwards-facing spines on each cladode mean they are difficult to remove once stuck. As roots and new shoots grow directly from areolas on each cladode, asexual reproduction can happen quickly and on a large scale. Floodwaters may also disperse fallen or broken pads, which can survive harsh conditions for long periods of time due to their adaptation to withstand extreme drought and temperature changes.

Why is it a weed?

Boxing glove cactus has been identified as the most rapidly-spreading species of weed cactus in WA. Infestations of up to 10 square kilometres have been recorded in the Pilbara and Goldfields regions. The cactus can reproduce vegetatively (fallen pads can create a new clone plant) is well-adapted to survival in desert environments, and has evolved backwards-facing spines designed to stick to wildlife. This may be fatal for smaller native fauna who cannot dislodge large numbers of embedded pads. The cactus’s spines also have the potential to cause injury to people and livestock, with farmers reporting increased veterinary treatment costs and employee injuries in infested areas. Infestations of cacti can out-compete native flora, reduce grazing land availability for livestock, contaminate agricultural crops, provide habitat for pest species such as rabbits. Infestations have proved costly and difficult to remove due to the robustness and specific desert adaptation of the cactus.

History

Opuntioid cacti have been cultivated since English settlement in WA. Historical records indicate individuals were brought over from England to provide habitat and food for farmed cochineal insect colonies, in order to use the insects to produce valuable red garment dye. Some fruiting Opuntioid varieties such as prickly pear were also cultivated for food. Not much is known about C. Fulgida specifically, however there are historical records of the plant being found in gardens and livestock grazing areas. It is assumed that this species was introduced in a similar fashion to the cacti discussed above.

How to control

Cactus in Australia are extremely challenging to control. In all situations considerable care is required to prevent injury from spines and spreading to new areas.

Physical

Physical or mechanical removal using hand-digging or excavators is possible, however care needs to be taken to burn or deeply bury all loose segments / mature plants after removal, given the cactus’s ability to withstand extreme heat and drought. Removal from the soil alone will not kill it. Physical removal (hand-digging) in dense infestations is hazardous, as the barbed spines can become lodged in the skin and cause infection, or create scratches and gashes.

Chemical

Glyphosate is reportedly ineffective, and best results are achieved using a formulation of 300g/L Triclopyr and 100gL Picloram at a rate of 500 mL per 100 L of water. A plant-based spraying oil should also be used to allow the herbicide to run down the spines onto the pads. A spray dye allows any missed pads to be easily seen.

For plants large enough to have a stem, Amitrole (250 g/L) + Ammonium thiocyanate (220 g/L) can be injected 1 mL into cuts at 3 cm spacing.

MSMA (monosodium methyl arsenate) is affective against boxing glove cactus, but can only be applied by registered herbicide contractors.

Managerial

Good weed hygiene will reduce the spread as pads easily attached to vehicles, machinery, livestock or wildlife. Managers could install fencing around infestation sites and keep livestock and machinery away. Vehicles and machinery traveling through infestation sites are advised to check for attached cactus segments and thoroughly clean down tyres and undercarriage before entering and leaving the site.

Wildfires are rarely intense enough to kill mature plants, however deliberate burns with the use of fuel to increase temperature and intensity will kill both mature plants and fallen segments. The burn area must be monitored and any remaining cacti or segments collected and either re-burned or deeply buried (using an excavator) to prevent any surviving pieces re-rooting.

Biological

Biological control using cochineal insects is an extremely effective management technique for this species. There is a species of cochineal insect (Dactylopius tomentosus) which has evolved specifically to feed on cacti including boxing glove cactus. The cochineal was widely distributed from 2016 by regional biosecuirty groups and is having variable impact.

Image credits

Plant © Andy Steed

Flower buds close up © Andy Steed

References

Balandrán-Quintana, R. R., González-León, A. et al (2018) An overview of Cholla (Cylindropuntia spp.) from Sonora, Mexico. Journal of the Professional Association for Cactus Development, 20, 162–177.

Jones, P. K., Day, M. D., McConnachie, A. J., Holtkamp, R. H., Conroy, J., Pidgeon, G., Clark, E., Clark, P., Fletcher, A., & Savage, M. (2023) The successful biological control of Cylindropuntia fulgida var. Mamillata (A. Schott ex Engelm.) Backeb. (Cactaceae) (coral or boxing glove cactus) at two field sites in Queensland, Australia. Biological Control, 182, 105235.

Klein, H. (2014) Boxing-glove cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. Mamillata forma monstrosa) (Cactaceae). Agricultural Research Council.

Lloyd, S. & Reeves, A. (2014) Situation Statement on Opuntioid Cacti (Austrocylindropuntia spp., Cylindropuntia spp. And Opuntia spp.) in Western Australia. Western Australian Agricultural Authority.

NSW Weedwise (2025) Boxing glove cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata)

Potter, S. & Sheehan, M. R. (2017). Opuntioid Cacti Management Guide: Best practice information for Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia and Opuntia species in Australia. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

The State of Queensland (2025). Coral Cactus. Queensland Government. Coral Cactus. Queensland Government.

Western Australian Herbarium (1998–) Florabase—the Western Australian flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Life Cycle

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	Notes
Active growth
Flowering
Fruiting
Dormant

Regularly or most commonly

Occasionally, given suitable conditions

Management

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	Notes
Mechanical removal
Foliar spray
Biological Control

Optimal

Potentially, but conditionally dependent

Last updated: October 2026

Boxing glove cactus

Quick facts

Names