Northern Queensland Permaculture

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Pitahaya, Dragon Fruit

Botanical Information

Botanical Information
Order Caryophyllales
Family Cactaceae
Genus Hylocereus
Common Name Pitahaya, Dragon Fruit
Species H. undatus

Maturity days

Planting Months

Planting months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
X X X X X X X X X X X X

Permaculture uses

Permaculture uses
Usage 1 Usage 2 Usage 3
Food_Forest Fruit

Growing condition comments

Growing Condition Comment
Drought Tolerant No
Humidity tolerant No
Planting area Ground
Sunlight Full_sun

Photos

Photos

Short comments

Well drained soil, this is a tropical cactus, waterlogged roots will rot. Best grown by cutting to ensure correct cultivar.

Grow on a trelis, and allow to sprawl out at desired height, and this promotes flowering and fruiting. If left to grow up a tree, the cactus will not flower/fruit until it's in the upper storey of the tree.

General comments

It is widely distributed through the tropics in cultivation.

They climb by use of aerial roots and can reach a height 10 meters or more growing on rocks and trees. Dragonfruit stems are climbing, creeping, sprawling or clambering, and branch profusely.

The flowers are nocturnal and only open for one night.

The fruit is oblong to oval, red with large bracteoles, with white pulp and edible black seeds.

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