Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus, Fruit
Origin
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Nepal, Southern Asia, Southern Europe
Caribbean, Central America
Types
Myristica fragrans
Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus megalanthus
Number of Varieties
1503
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, Hills, Hillside
Rocky areas, Terrestrial
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1111-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
12-9
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,000.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm240.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Copper
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Toothed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
All year
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
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Budding, Seedlings
Cuttings, reseeds, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, 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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
In Early Autumn, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in spring, Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Armillaria mellea, Blight, Caterpillars, Crown gall, Crown rot, fungus, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Frost
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Beetles, Caterpillar, Small mammals
-
Allergy
Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache, Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
As decorated salad, Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Windbreak
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms, Thoat infection
Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Fruits
Other Uses
Making deodorants, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in mosquito repellents, Used as a laxative, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for making soaps, Used in biomass
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Groundcover
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Myristica fragrans
HYLOCEREUS undatus
Common Name
Nutmeg
Pitahaya, Dragon fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Cinderella Plant, Jesus in the Cradle
In Hindi
जायफल
Red Pitaya
In German
Muskatnuss
Drachenfrucht, Distelbirne
In French
noix de muscade
pitaya, fruit du dragon, cierge-lézard, poire de chardon
In Spanish
nuez moscada
pitahaya roja (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela); flor de caliz, pitajava (Puerto Rico); junco, junco tapatio, pitahaya orejona, reina de la noche, tasajo (Mexico)
In Greek
μοσχοκάρυδο
Φρούτο του δράκου (fruto tu draku)
In Portuguese
noz-moscada
pitaia, cato-barse, cardo-ananaz, rainha da noite
In Polish
gałka muszkatołowa
Red Pitaya
In Latin
nutmeg
Red Pitaya
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Magnoliales
Caryophyllales
Family
Poaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Myristica
Hylocereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Myrteae
Cacteae
Subfamily
Myrtoideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
220
1
27800
👆🏻