Know your alien invasive plant: Pereskia

THIS week, Hillcrest Conservancy takes a look at the Pereskia as part of its series of articles on alien invasive plants to help the community identify and eradicate them from their gardens.

The Pereskia’s scientific name is Pereskia aculeata but it is also known as Barbados goose berry, Barbadosstekelbessie (Afrikaans) or uqwaningi (isiZulu).

Description: This is not one of the plants you want to bump into by accident. The vicious thorns can grow up to 40mm long and its ability to climb into the tallest trees should be enough to identify this species. The young lance-shaped leaves are dark green turning yellowish. The seeds are green turning yellow and as the name implies resembles a gooseberry. The flowers are quite attractive being white to light yellow with an orange centre.

Where does the species come from? It has been introduced from the West Indies and South America.

What is its invasive status in South Africa? This category 1b plant will give the person on whose land it occurs a particularly hard time trying to get rid of it.

Where is it a problem? Mostly in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as scattered parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Why is it a problem? This species is particularly difficult to get rid of firstly because of the thorns but also due to the fact that even one leaf left after clearing will send down roots and begin to grow again.

How is it spread? Through seed dispersal.

Does the plant have any uses? It is used as an ornament and for securing hedging.

Contact Ian Pattrick on 079 909 5458 or Hillcrest Conservancy chairman, George Victor, on 073 901 3902 or e-mail georgevic@telkomsa.net

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