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Summary
Other common names include Red Pitaya, Strawberry Pear, Night Blooming Cereus, Queen of the Night, and Honolulu Queen. Hylocereus undatus or commonly known as Dragon Fruit is a climbing cactus or succulent shrub with triangular stalks that can be up to 7 m long. It produces aerial roots enabling it to climb and support itself. It is widely cultivated for its edible fruit with a sweet and pleasant flavor. The fruit is red, 7-12 cm long, and covered in prominent scales. The flowers are white but yellowish-green on the outside and open at night. The plant is also used as an ornamental plant. It is fast growing and can be grown in semi-shade or full sun.
Physical Characteristics
Hylocereus undatus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bats.
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 and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Cereus tricostatus Gosselin Cereus undatus Haw. Hylocereus guatemalensis (Weing.) Britton & Rose Hyl
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[335 ]. Delicious[317 ]. A sweet, pleasant flavour[335 ]. The red fruit is 7 - 12cm long, covered in prominent scales[335 ]. Unopened flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable[377 ].
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.
None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Hedge
Agroforestry Uses: The plant can be used to make a beautiful flowering hedge[317 ]. Other Uses: None known
Special Uses
Food Forest Hedge
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A plant of the warm tropical lowlands with low to high rainfall[335 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 28c, but can tolerate 12 - 34c[418 ]. It succeeds with a mean annual rainfall in the range 300 - 3,500mm[418 ]. Often an epiphytic plant, though it also grows on the ground. Requires a well-drained soil and a pH of 6 or lower[200 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.3 - 6.7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[418 ]. Widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, it has often escaped from cultivation and become naturalised. It has been classified as 'invasive' in some areas, where it often spreads vegetatively[305 ]. Plants grow well, but do not always set fruit well, when growing in the wetter areas of the tropics[377 ]. They can have 4-6 fruiting cycles per year. Flowering Time: Late Summer/Early Fall. Bloom Color: Green White/Near White. Spacing: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm).
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - Stem cuttings. The cuttings are usually dried out for a week or two. The plants are self sterile and have to be pollinated by bats and moths. Hand pollination is recommended for good fruit production.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Dragon Fruit, Red Pitaya, Strawberry Pear, Night blooming Cereus, Queen of the Night, Honolulu Queen, Chacam, Chak-wob, Flor de caliz, Junco tapatio, Night blooming cereus, Pitahaya, Pitaia-branca, Pitaia-vermelha, Pitaya orejona, Pitaya, Pratiel puehs, Queen of the night, Reina de la noche, Strawberry pear, Tasajo, Thang loy, Zacamb,
Native Range
SOUTHERN AMERICA: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest,
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: Data Deficient
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
(Haw.) Britton & Rose
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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Subject : Hylocereus undatus
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