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Hylocereus megalanthus - (K.Schum. Ex Vaupel) Ralf Bauer

Common Name Yellow Pitaya
Family Cactaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range S. America - Peru, Colombia, Ecuador.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Hylocereus megalanthus Yellow Pitaya


Fibonacci wikimedia
Hylocereus megalanthus Yellow Pitaya
Daderot wikimedia

 

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Summary

Native to South America, Hylocereus megalanthus or Yellow Pitaya is a succulent, climbing shrub that can grow on branches of trees of on the ground. It produces aerial roots. It is often cultivated for its fruits. The ovoid yellow fruit has a succulent pulp with a sweet flavor. The plant can be grown from seeds or stem cuttings.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Hylocereus megalanthus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cereus megalanthus K.Schum. ex Vaupel Mediocactus megalanthus (K.Schum. ex Vaupel) Britton & Rose Se

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw[416 ]. A succulent pulp with a sweet flavour[416 ]. Some forms have a thin skin and an extremely delicious flavour[301 ]. The fruit is around 12cm long and 7cm wide[416 ]. Immature fruits have tufts of thin spines, but these fall off naturally as the fruit ripens[416 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Vitamin C

Higher in calcium then red dragon fruit. High in protein. High in antioxidants. High in dietary fiber. A good source of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Small amounts of iron, vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Niacin. Seeds contain good amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
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Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

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Other Uses

Hedge

Agroforestry Uses: The plant can be used to make a beautiful flowering hedge[317 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Plants can tolerate very high temperatures, and also occasional low temperatures to 0°c[377 ]. Often an epiphytic plant, though it also grows on the ground. Requires a well-drained soil and a pH of 6 or lower[200 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - Stem cuttings.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Yellow Pitaya, chaulmoogra, chaulmoogra oil tree, chaulmoograträd, chaulmugra, cholmugra, nirati, tuvaraka.

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Colombia, Ecuador, Loja, Morona Santiago, Napo, Pichincha, Peru, San Martín,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Least Concern

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Hylocereus undatusDragon Fruit, Red PitayaShrub4.0 10-12 FLMHSNDM402

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(K.Schum. Ex Vaupel) Ralf Bauer

Botanical References

1

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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