Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus, Fruit
Succulent
Origin
Caribbean, Central America
Southern Africa
Types
Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus megalanthus
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Rocky areas, Terrestrial
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-15
10-12
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color
White, Gold
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
Fruit Color
Red
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
Green
Leaf Shape
Toothed
Succulent
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, reseeds, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the Soil well drained
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Semi-Double
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
Matte
Attracts
Not Available
Butterflies
Allergy
no allergic reactions
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
As decorated salad, Beautification
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory, Weight loss
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Not Available
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
HYLOCEREUS undatus
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Pitahaya, Dragon fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Cinderella Plant, Jesus in the Cradle
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Red Pitaya
Elephant Bush
In German
Drachenfrucht, Distelbirne
Elephant Bush
In French
pitaya, fruit du dragon, cierge-lézard, poire de chardon
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
pitahaya roja (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela); flor de caliz, pitajava (Puerto Rico); junco, junco tapatio, pitahaya orejona, reina de la noche, tasajo (Mexico)
elefante Bush
In Greek
Φρούτο του δράκου (fruto tu draku)
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
pitaia, cato-barse, cardo-ananaz, rainha da noite
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Red Pitaya
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Red Pitaya
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cactaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Hylocereus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Cacteae
Not Available
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Red Pitaya and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Red Pitaya and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Red Pitaya and Elephant Bush 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 Red Pitaya is Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory and Weight loss whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Red Pitaya has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Red Pitaya vs Elephant Bush
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 Red Pitaya vs Elephant Bush 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 Red Pitaya are no allergic reactions whereas of Elephant Bush have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Red Pitaya has showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Red Pitaya is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Red Pitaya and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.