It is a drought-tolerant species that can grow in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Buffalobur spreads exclusively by seeds, which are enclosed within the spiny lobed caylx . Leaves are deeply lobed like a watermelon leaf, and up to 5 inches long. One of the anthers in each flower is longer than the other four. The fruit is a dry berry that is overgrown by the calyx , forming a burlike fruit.
Seeds are black, flat, and wrinkled.
No biological control agents are available for Buffalobur, but herbicides are available that can provide excellent control of this weed.