Pereskia comes from the West Indies, and South and Central America and is classed as a category 1b invasive species having escaped from gardens where it was introduced as an ornamental barrier plant.
This creeper has shiny green succulent leaves that turn yellowish, superficially resembling bougainvillea and produces clusters of lemon scented white to cream flowers and edible yellow berries about the size of grapes which are armed with spines.
It clambers up into trees forming dense canopies that block out light and smother indigenous species and can even cause trees to collapse under the sheer weight of plant matter.
The most distinguishing features are the spines. The younger shoots have pairs of hooked thorns along the stems and the older, thick woody stems have clusters of hard, vicious, straight spines, 30-40mm long, Any piece of the plant that falls to the ground has the ability to take root and produce a new plant and this feature, plus the extremely vicious spines and the density of growth make it one of the most difficult IAP’s to remove and control.
To eradicate this creeper: cut off the thick wooded stems at the base and paint immediately with a suitable herbicide. Leave the plant to hang in the tree to die back but watch for stems falling to the ground which should ideally be gathered up and taken to a safe place to burn. New growth and leaves that are reachable can be sprayed with a suitable herbicide.
This creeper requires constant follow up as any piece of the plant that falls to the ground – even sections that look dried up and dead, have the potential to regrow.
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