How to Grow Dragon Fruit Cactus

If you're looking for a truly other-worldly fruit to grow on a plant that blooms only at night with large fragrant flowers, look no further than the dragon fruit cactus.

Also sometimes known as pitahaya, the dragon fruit plant is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America, and is one of several different fruits grown from cacti.

Known for its bright pink, leathery skin, dragon fruit is sweet on the inside, featuring bright white flesh and tiny black seeds.

Not only will you have a harvest of this unusual, nutritious, and showy fruit if you grow a dragon fruit cactus,

but these fast-growing perennial cacti also have ornamental value in your garden landscape or in your home.

Best planted in spring, dragon fruit cacti can grow up to 20 feet tall and produce aerial roots that allow them to cling to surfaces, creating their creeping, climbing habit.

This plant is considered invasive in parts of Florida.

Common Name Dragon fruit, pitahaya, strawberry pear, Honolulu queen, moonlight cactus Botanical Name Hylocereus undatus

Family Cactaceae Plant Type Cactus, perennial Mature Size 8–20 ft. tall, 3–10 ft. wide

Sun Exposure Full, partial Soil Type Sandy, well-drained Soil pH Neutral, acidic

Bloom Time Spring, summer, fall, winter Flower Color White

Hardiness Zones 10–12 (USDA) Native Area North America, Central America, South America

Dragon Fruit Cactus Care To successfully grow your own dragon fruit plant, you'll need to live in a warm and sunny region and have ample space in your garden—

this is a heavy cactus with a spreading habit and long stems. Make sure it's planted far enough away from your home,

electrical lines, and any other hazardous objects it could interact with. It will also usually need to be supported by a strong trellis.

Light Soil Water Temperature and Humidity Fertilizer

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