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Red-Purple flesh fruit is most likely a hybrid with H. undatus. There are many cultivars in existance and more are being made. At this time most are slightly smaller than white fleshed varieties and often sweeter. As well as for edible fruit, red fleshed varieties are also being used as a food and drink colorant.

White flesh fruit is the original type for dragon fruit. Many cultivars in many countries exist for dragon fruit, often to do with fruit size.

2. Morphology - Back To Top

Plant Habit & Growth Form - Back To Top

Hylocereus undatus is considered a tropical vine cactus. The stems of dragon fruit are usually 3 sided, or ribbed, and naturally grow up rocks, trees and other tall objects. The stems grow one side against an object and use aerial roots to anchor itself to said object. In cultivation stems are generally grown up something then cut at the top to let multiple stems hang over a frame.

The Leaf - Back To Top

Not visible except when flowering you can see very well developed leaf primordia on the flowering stem. Otherwise this cactus has smooth stems.

Photos: Rib & Areole

The Stem - Back To Top

Photos: Cutting | Stem cross section | Apical meristem

The Flower - Back To Top

Perhaps the largest of all cactus flowers, dragon fruit flowers can exceed 30cm in width! Nocturnal flowers open late in the day and remain open for 1 night only until the following morning when they close up.

Photos: Open bloom | Flower cross section | Ovary cross section | Stigma cross section | Flower dieing

The Fruit - Back To Top

Depending on the variety and environmental conditions fruit may reach up to 15cm long and 12cm wide and weigh up to 800g.

Photos: Dragon fruit farm | Red fleshed dragon fruit

The Seed - Back To Top

3. Cultivation - Back To Top

Preferred Climate - Back To Top

Dragon fruit is best suited to tropical regions, but will tolerate many climates that stay above 2C year round. It tolerates flooding if not prolonged, some drought and anywhere from shade to full sun. It is a fairly resiliant plant if allowed to acclimate to new conditions slowly and kept warm.

Flowering and Fruiting Season - Back To Top

Temperature - Back To Top

Hylocereus undatus is a tropical plant that does not tolerate cold temperature. Above 2C should be maintained and above 10C for decent growth. They also grow upto 45C and after that may have issues of dehydration and being scorched, especially in a greenhouse.

Water - Back To Top

Here in southern Taiwan dragon fruit survives very intense rainfall during summer and floods for up to 1 week and no rainfall for up to 5 months. Here they still have access to water underground moisture. In pots or severely dry weather water should be provided semi-frequently. They can often handle a few weeks of no water, but in ideal conditions the soil will remain slightly moist without drying of becoming wet.

Light - Back To Top

Cuttings without roots should be kept away from strong light as the stems will dehydrate very fast.

Established plants can handle full sun, though acclimating them to full sun slowly is essential. Dragon fruit grows out in the open in such areas as southern USA, Israel, SE Asia, Australia, Africa etc.

Nutrition - Back To Top

Pruning - Back To Top

Pruning is done during fruiting to stop stem growth and concentrate energy on the fruit. Plant pruning is usually done on plants to promote new stems and create more fruit sites.

Cultivation Methods - Back To Top

Dragon fruit grows up things and over things. In cultivation when fruit is the goal they are grown up something around 4-6 feet tall and trained/pruned to grow many stems over the top. Many systems are used, but essentially stems are grown up a pole and spread out on top like a crown.

For cactus grafting see here.

Propagation Methods - Back To Top

By cutting: Cut stems of any size of 10cm or longer. Allow the stem to sit in a place that is out of any direct sun and let the cut surface dry and heal for a few days. After this time place upright either in an empty pot or completely dry soil mix. Keep in warm, shaded area and do not water until roots form which will take 1-8 weeks.

By seed: See our cactus seed sowing section for more information.

Pests & Diseases - Back To Top

Fungal rot is probably the biggest concern. Especially in wet areas when stems get damaged fungal, and perhaps also bacterial, rot often occurs. Sometimes it can be corrected through dry conditions, though in the field plants or more often than not simply removed and destroyed. This is usually because rot often happens at the base of the plant and once the base of the stem has died, the platn is more or less useless for production. Such situations also create opportunity to make cuttings.

Scale is a common, though not so serious pest of dragon fruit. We personally believe that the impact that all but hte most serious of scale infestations causes is not severe enough to warrant pesticide use on a food crop. Scale is easily removed with the finger nail if there are not many plants in a collection.

Also see our section on Cactus illness.

4. Other Topics Related to - Back To Top

Uses of - Back To Top

Fruit: The fruit of Hylocereus undatus is used as a tabel fruit. Fresh fruit can be consumed as is, or mixed into fruit salads.

Colorant: The pigments found in the red-purple varieties are used as acolorant in a number of foods and drinks such as alcohol, juice, ice-cream etc.

Grafting Stock: Hylocereus speceis are one of the most widely used grafting stocks for other cactus species. Due to their water tolerance and fast growth speed, they have become an industry staple in the cultivation of rare and colelctibel cactus. You can read more about grafting cactus onto Hylocereus HERE.

How to Ship - Back To Top

Plants should be shipped bare root, or cuttings after the cut has fully dried. Wrap stems in newsprint, without any moisture, and placed in box with additional newsprint as padding/insulation. Stems can survive up to 3 months in transit like this. Succulent, well hydrated stems are best suited for long term shipping as they tend to dehydrate faster than many other cactus species.

How to Acclimate from the Mail - Back To Top

Always avoid direct sun at first. When you recieve a cutting, place in a pot with or without *dry* soil and wait for roots before watering. For rooted plants, place in a pot with dry soil and water after 1 week to allow recently potted plant roots to heal. Over the course of 4-6 weeks slowly adjust plants to more light until reaching the desired position.

Photos - Back To Top

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Hylocereus undatus Plant Guide

Dragon Fruit

Table of Contents

1. Classification

2. Morphology

3. Cultivation

4. Other Topics

1. Classification & Taxonomy - Back To Top

Botanical Description of - Back To Top

Cultivars & Varieties - Back To Top