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Dragon Fruit

Hylocereus undatus
Also known as: Pitaya

Dragon Fruit is a fruit in the Cactaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with low moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 10-11.

Varieties

1 · sorted by days to maturity
  • Dragon Fruit

    PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Epiphytic cactus (cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Striking fruit; night-blooming flowers. Note: Needs sturdy support; some varieties need hand-pollination.

    Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is a climbing epiphytic cactus grown from cuttings for its vivid fruit and large fragrant night-blooming flowers; needs heat and a strong trellis.

    Growing notes: Botanical name: Hylocereus undatus|Hardiness zones: 10-11|Propagation: cutting|Light: Full sun to part shade|Water: Low|Mature size: climbing 10-20 feet

Family
Cactaceae
Category
Fruit
Form
Succulent
Lifecycle
perennial
Zone
10-11
Height
Spread
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Water
Low

Plan your dragon fruit planting

Add dragon fruit to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.

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At a glance

Frost tolerance
Tender · to ~32°F
Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives

Storing & preserving

Refrigerate ripe fruit; ripen firm fruit at room temperature.

  • Freeze: Freezes well raw; spread on a tray first so pieces stay loose.
  • Preserve: Make jam or water-bath can high-acid fruit.
  • Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.

General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Growing timeline

Propagation
Cutting
Schedule anchor
Last Frost

Care & troubleshooting

No curated care & troubleshooting advice for dragon fruit yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.