The dragon fruit plant is a sizable climbing cactus with thick, towering branches that resemble succulents and produces bright red or yellow fruit. The dense, juicy, and sweet fruit of the dragon fruit plant—also known as pitahaya, pitaya, strawberry pears, or cactus fruit—is ideal for eating raw, slicing into salads, or blending into smoothies or ice cream.
As if all that weren’t enough, dragon fruit bushes also provide some of the biggest flowers in the world, popularly known as “night-blooming cereus,” which only bloom for one night and turn the air a distinctive tropical aroma of white flowers.
Are cactus and dragon fruits the same thing?
The Latin American origins of this lovely exotic fruit is where the term pitaya or pitahaya, which are equivalent, originates. It comes from Central America (dating back to the 13th century). However, it found its way to Malaysia and Vietnam, where it is now widely grown (perhaps as a result of its appeal to Asian customers). According to what we’ve heard, the Vietnamese term “thang loy,” which means “dragon fruit,” somehow translates into English. While Vietnamese producers refer to their fruit as “dragon fruit,” those in Israel, where the fruit is grown professionally and sold into the United States, prefer to call it “pitaya or “pitahaya.
Therefore, they are essentially the same fruit whether you see them labeled pitayas, pitahayas, or dragon fruits. They’re probably beginning to appear everywhere now. It doesn’t matter if it’s fresh in the fruit section of your grocery store, in your favorite juice shop, or even as an air freshener’s aroma.
Dragon fruit also comes in a variety of interior colors:
You may also recall seeing some lovely fruit from Israel earlier this year that was marked “Pitaya” or “Pitahaya.”
The high levels of fiber and vitamin C in most dragon fruit are the only thing they have in common in terms of nutrition. However, the flavor characteristic of each fruit can vary. The white-fleshed fruit from Vietnam has a beautiful exterior but a bland, unremarkable flavor. In contrast, Nicaraguan fruit has dark-purple crimson flesh that is similar to a sweet, juicy, meaty watermelon.
The cactus pear is actually related to dragon fruit. In contrast to cactus pear seeds, which are crunchy like those in passion fruit, the seeds of the dragon fruit are fully soft and edible (much like those of a kiwifruit). Additionally, the dragon fruit lacks thorns on its skin, in contrast to the cactus pear.
Therefore, the next time you pass a large display of tropical fruits in your produce area, don’t be hesitant to buy one and give it a try. Due to their limited shelf life, it is preferable to bring home some dragon fruit and use them in a fruit salad or smoothie that same day or the following.
Is dragon fruit a cactus or a succulent?
The dragon fruit cactus is simply a cactus in name when it comes to soil. It should not be planted in cactus soil, which does not contain adequate nutrients, but rather in nutrient-rich, neutral to acidic potting soil.
Do dragon fruits belong to the family of cacti?
The dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is a tropical fruit that is a member of the Cactaceae family of climbing cactus. The fruit is well-liked in Southeast Asia and is widely grown in Vietnam. 1 The dragon fruit has been reported to be a good source of vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus in addition to being sweet and refreshing. 2
Origin and geographic scope The scientific name of the dragon fruit is derived from the Greek words hyle (woody), cereus (waxen), and undatus, which alludes to the wavy edges of its stems. 3 Although its origin is unknown, the dragon fruit is most likely a native of Central America. 4 Pitahaya is another name for it, as is pitaya roja in Central and northern South America. Other tall cacti species with flowering fruit may also go by the Spanish name pitahaya. 5 Over a century ago, the fruit was brought to Vietnam by the French. 6
According to a 2013 report, Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of dragon fruit, accounting for 55% of the nation’s total fruit export sales.
7 However, other nations have also attempted to cultivate the fruit, including Thailand, Israel, the Philippines, Hawaii, northern Australia, and southern China. 8
Description It is a climbing cactus vine that thrives in dry environments. 9 Due to its epiphytic nature, it thrives on soil that contains a lot of organic matter. 10 Because the plant only produces blossoms at night, it is also frequently referred to as the “moonflower” or the “Lady of the Night.” The flowers are white and huge, measuring 20 cm or longer, and they only bloom for one night. 13 When in bloom, they have a bell-like form and smell good. In a single year, pitahaya trees can go through four to six fruiting cycles. It can be multiplied either through stem cuttings or seeds. 16
The dragon fruit has striking features, including vivid red, purple, or yellow skin variations and noticeable scales.
17 Oval, elliptical, or pearshape describe the fruit. The meat has a mildly sweet or occasionally slightly sour flavor. 18 The delicious black seeds are scattered throughout the meat, which is either white or red. 19
The orchid cacti, or epiphyllum, which are renowned for their enormous and magnificent blossoms, are related to the dragon fruit. The epiphyllum and pitahaya can cross-pollinate. 20
Application and potential Commonly consumed raw, the fruit is said to taste better when cold. 21 Additionally, it can be converted into a fruit sorbet or given as juice. 22 While syrup derived from the full fruit is used to color pastry and candies, the fruit itself can be used to flavor beverages. 23 You can prepare unopened flower buds similarly to vegetables. 24 According to legend, the dragon fruit lowers blood pressure and enhances vision. 25
Can you eat cacti with dragon fruit?
The health advantages of dragon fruit’s key components are numerous. It has a low cholesterol and fat content but is high in fiber, which helps with digestion. Due to its strong antioxidant content, it helps prevent aging and enhances cardiovascular health.
Yes, the pitaya plant can self-pollinate and has hermaphrodite blooms. Bats and moths are additional pollinators of the flowers. Cross-pollination is desired by fruit growers because it enables them to produce larger and tastier fruits.
Some kinds are not self-compatible, so a controlled hand-pollination is required, however time-consuming. The process of hand pollination involves plucking an anther from one flower and brushing it against the stigma of another to release pollen (7).
In the US, this cactus blooms from June to August during the summer. Once the flowers are pollinated, fruits follow and are available for harvesting after about a month.
A dragon fruit cactus’ entire fruit is edible. The fruit’s peel, or outer layer of scales, is slightly bitter in flavor but not poisonous.
Which cactus species produces dragon fruit?
A cactus with dragon fruit Originally from Central and South America, the Hylocereus is a vine-like cactus that is now widely grown throughout Southeast Asia for its tasty, vivid pink pitaya, often known as dragon fruit.
The cactus that doesn’t bite.
Don’t be alarmed by the name! This sturdy cactus has fragrant white and yellow blossoms and is an ideal low-maintenance houseplant with a strong desire to expand (and is soft to the touch). For the dragon fruit to reach its full potential, you might want to repot it as its stems spread outward.
Are there thorns on a dragon fruit cactus?
The yellow dragon fruit and the cacti both have prickly thorns. Wearing gloves while harvesting is advised. Another name for dragon fruit is “strawberry pears.
Dragon fruit naturally grows where?
Dragon fruit are tasty fruits that grow on Hylocereus and Selenecereus cactus plants. The term “dragon fruit” will be used throughout this profile to refer to fruits from those genera (“Other64: Pitahaya Research – UCANR, n.d.). Other names for dragon fruit include pitaya, pitahaya, and strawberry pears (Lobo et al, 2013). From the genus Stenocereus, a different cacti fruit with the same popular name as pitaya can be found. Stenocereus fruits resemble dragon fruit in appearance, but they are rounder and taste sourer (Shelton, 2014).
Mexico, Central America, and South America are the original home of dragon fruit (Crane & Balerdi, n.d.). Although many Hylocereus species have been identified, accurate identification remains a challenge. Hylocereus undatus, which produces fruit with brilliant pink skin and white flesh, and Hylocereus sp., which produces fruit with bright pink skin and various shades of pink flesh, are the two principal species raised for commercial production. Both come in a variety of forms. Another dragon fruit produced for commercial purposes is Selenecereus megalanthus, which produces fruit with white meat and yellow peel (Lobo et al, 2013). All dragon fruits have edible, small, black seeds that resemble kiwi seeds in appearance. Dragon fruit has a texture like to that of a kiwi or a watermelon and a pleasantly sweet flavor with hints of earthiness. It is considered that cultivars with darker pink flesh offer the best flavor (McEachran, 2015). Dragon fruit are oval in shape and around the size of a baseball.
Commercial dragon fruit cultivation only occurs in California (particularly Southern California), Florida, and Hawaii (Lobo et al, 2013).
Marketing Channels
The primary season for fresh dragon fruit is the summer (June through September). For the majority of species, August and September are their busiest months; however, some Selenecereus megalanthus varieties may bear fruit from November through February (Lobo et al, 2015).
Dragon fruit is mostly farmed for the fresh market and is frequently sold at farmers’ markets and specialized shops. Farmers markets allowed growers to sell their dragon fruit in 2011 for between $7 and $8 per pound (Dawson, 2011).
The fruit has a great chance of being turned into a variety of goods, adding value. Energy and fruit bars, ice cream, jam, marmalade and preserves, juice, pastries, pulp, and yogurt are some of these processed goods. Unopened flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable, and the juice of the red kinds can also be used as a natural food colorant and dye (Crane & Balerdi, n.d). (Lobo et al, 2013).
In comparison, the wholesale cost of 10 pounds of organic red dragon fruit cultivated in California and sent to Los Angeles in August 2014 was $57.50. In August 2014, traditional red dragon fruit was imported to Los Angeles from Nicaragua and Vietnam, priced between $23.50 and $33. (Lobo et al, 2013).
Because there is a gap between demand and availability for dragon fruit in the United States, American farmers have the chance to cultivate the fruit commercially on a greater scale and address that market need (Hardesty, 2015).
Agritourism is another way to add value when growing a crop like dragon fruit. According to the University of California Cooperative Extension, “Agricultural tourism is a commercial enterprise at a working farm or ranch conducted for the enjoyment and education of visitors, and that generates supplemental income for the owner or operator (“Agritourism – UCCE, 2016).
Production
The University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Division most recently reported in a 2013 PowerPoint that California grows 100 to 200 acres of dragon fruit, Hawaii grows about 200 acres, and Florida grows more than 400 acres (Lobo et al, 2013).
Dragon fruit is also grown commercially in a large number of other nations, such as Nicaragua (the top Central American producer of Hylocereus sp. ), Colombia (the top South American producer of Selenecereus megalanthus), Ecuador (the top producer of both Hylocereus sp. and Selenecereus megalanthus), Vietnam (the top Southeast Asian producer of Hylocereus undatus), Thailand, Malaysia, and Israel (Lobo et al, 2013).
Exports/Imports/United States Consumption
Fresh dragon fruit is mostly the white-fleshed cultivars that are imported to the United States from Southeast Asia (most notably Vietnam) (Lobo et al, 2013).
Since dragon fruit is a recently developing fruit crop, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service do not yet have any export, import, or per capita consumption data for the United States (“Fruit and Tree Nut Data – ERS, 2021).
Management
California had been experiencing a severe drought for four years as of 2016. This had made it more difficult for the state to produce some crops (Ross, 2021). Because dragon fruit trees can tolerate dryness well, they are being produced in some locations to take the place of conventional crops like citrus and avocados (McClurg, 2015). Dragon fruit need between 25 and 50 inches of water per year, and excessive watering needs to be avoided to prevent fruit rot and bloom drop.
Commercial orchards need to support the dragon fruit trees with some sort of trellising because they are regarded as climbing cactus plants. After one year of growth, dragon fruit trees can start to bear fruit, and they can continue to produce for about 30 years (Harrington, n.d. 2018).
The needs for pollination when starting a dragon fruit orchard are another significant consideration. Although many cultivars self-pollinate, some are self-incompatible and require cross-pollination to produce fruit (Crane & Balerdi, n.d.).
How long does it take a dragon fruit to mature?
The vibrant colors of a dragon fruit are difficult to miss in the produce section of a supermarket store, whether they are magenta and green or bright yellow. The fruit has a delicate, subtle flavor, and the numerous tiny, black seeds offer a delightful crunch. This unique fruit is produced by an equally strange plant, a Central American native tropical cactus.
If dragon fruit has caught your attention, you can easily produce your own dragon fruit plant from the tiny seeds that are dispersed throughout its flesh. Although plants cultivated in containers can take up to two years to develop fruit, they can start flowering as soon as six to eight months after planting. The good news is that a mature plant can produce four to six fruiting cycles year and can continue to produce fruit for 20 to 30 years.