Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Caribbean, Central America
Types
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus megalanthus
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
tropical environments, Tropical regions
Rocky areas, Terrestrial
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
11-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 23, 24
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Spreading
Flower Color
Ivory
White, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Yellow
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Not Available
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Toothed
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand, Well drained
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, reseeds, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Do not water frequently, 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 pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove shoots, Remove short branches, Remove short twigs, Requires little pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Semi-Double
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Not Available
Attracts
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
Not Available
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
As decorated salad, Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics, Not Available
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Fruits
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Not Available
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARICA papaya
HYLOCEREUS undatus
Common Name
Papaya
Pitahaya, Dragon fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Cinderella Plant, Jesus in the Cradle
In Hindi
पपीता
Red Pitaya
In German
Papaya
Drachenfrucht, Distelbirne
In French
Papaye
pitaya, fruit du dragon, cierge-lézard, poire de chardon
In Spanish
Papaya
pitahaya roja (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela); flor de caliz, pitajava (Puerto Rico); junco, junco tapatio, pitahaya orejona, reina de la noche, tasajo (Mexico)
In Greek
Παπάγια
Φρούτο του δράκου (fruto tu draku)
In Portuguese
Mamão
pitaia, cato-barse, cardo-ananaz, rainha da noite
In Polish
Papaja
Red Pitaya
In Latin
Papaya
Red Pitaya
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Caryophyllales
Family
Caricaceae
Cactaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Cacteae
Subfamily
Not Available
Cactoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Papaya and Red Pitaya
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Papaya and Red Pitaya. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Papaya and Red Pitaya as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Papaya is Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation and Skin Disorders whereas of Red Pitaya is Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory and Weight loss. Papaya has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics and Not Available while Red Pitaya has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics and Not Available.
Compare Facts of Papaya vs Red Pitaya
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Papaya vs Red Pitaya and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Papaya are Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes and wheezing whereas of Red Pitaya have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Papaya has showy fruits and Red Pitaya has showy fruits. Also Papaya is flowering and Red Pitaya is not flowering . You can compare Papaya and Red Pitaya facts and facts of other plants too.