Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Ornamental Grasses and Bamboo
  
Cactus, Fruit
  
Origin
Southern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean
  
Caribbean, Central America
  
Types
Not Available
  
Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus megalanthus
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas, Dry Forest, Rocky areas
  
Rocky areas, Terrestrial
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
11-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
  
12-9
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Spreading
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Blue Green
  
White, Gold
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Silver, Gray
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Silver, Gray
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Tan, Silver, Gray
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Toothed
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Salt
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Cuttings, reseeds, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, occasional watering once established, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
Average Water Needs, Keep the Soil well drained
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Salt
  
Drought
  
Flowers
No
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Semi-Double
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Asthma, Itchiness, Rash, Rhinitis
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover
  
As decorated salad, Beautification
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory, Weight loss
  
Part of Plant Used
Stem
  
Fruits
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
HELICTOTRICHON sempervirens
  
HYLOCEREUS undatus
  
Common Name
Blue Oat Grass
  
Pitahaya, Dragon fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Cinderella Plant, Jesus in the Cradle
  
In Hindi
ब्लू जई घास
  
Red Pitaya
  
In German
Blau Ährengras
  
Drachenfrucht, Distelbirne
  
In French
Bleu Oat Grass
  
pitaya, fruit du dragon, cierge-lézard, poire de chardon
  
In Spanish
Azul hierba de avena
  
pitahaya roja (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela); flor de caliz, pitajava (Puerto Rico); junco, junco tapatio, pitahaya orejona, reina de la noche, tasajo (Mexico)
  
In Greek
Μπλε βρώμης Grass
  
Φρούτο του δράκου (fruto tu draku)
  
In Portuguese
Azul Aveia
  
pitaia, cato-barse, cardo-ananaz, rainha da noite
  
In Polish
Niebieski Owies trawa
  
Red Pitaya
  
In Latin
Blue Oat Grass
  
Red Pitaya
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Poales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Helictotrichon
  
Hylocereus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Aveneae
  
Cacteae
  
Subfamily
Pooideae
  
Cactoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available