Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Cactus, Fruit
Origin
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Caribbean, Central America
Types
Echinocactus parryi, Echinocactus texensis
Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus megalanthus
Number of Varieties
503
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Gravels, Sandy areas
Rocky areas, Terrestrial
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1511-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-9
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm240.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Magenta
White, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
-
-
Leaf Color in Summer
-
-
Leaf Color in Fall
-
-
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Toothed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, reseeds, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in summer, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Spider mites
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Semi-Double
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
-
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Insects, Mealybugs, Spider Mites
-
Allergy
Skin cuts
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
As decorated salad, Beautification
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Very little waste
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Fruits
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ECHINOCACTUS
HYLOCEREUS undatus
Common Name
Golden barrel cactus, Golden ball
Pitahaya, Dragon fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Cinderella Plant, Jesus in the Cradle
In Hindi
echinocactus
Red Pitaya
In German
echinocactus
Drachenfrucht, Distelbirne
In French
echinocactus
pitaya, fruit du dragon, cierge-lézard, poire de chardon
In Spanish
echinocactus
pitahaya roja (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela); flor de caliz, pitajava (Puerto Rico); junco, junco tapatio, pitahaya orejona, reina de la noche, tasajo (Mexico)
In Greek
Echinocactus
Φρούτο του δράκου (fruto tu draku)
In Portuguese
Echinocactus
pitaia, cato-barse, cardo-ananaz, rainha da noite
In Polish
Echinocactus
Red Pitaya
In Latin
Echinocactus
Red Pitaya
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cactaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Echinocactus
Hylocereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Cacteae
Cacteae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
1120
1
27800
👆🏻