Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Caribbean, Central America
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus megalanthus
-
Habitat
Rocky areas, Terrestrial
Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-15
10-12
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
White, Gold
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Leaf Shape
Toothed
Maple shaped
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very 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
Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, reseeds, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the Soil well drained
Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
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
Pruning
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
Aphids, Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Semi-Double
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Attracts
-
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Nausea, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
As decorated salad, Beautification
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Edible Uses
Yes
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Medicinal Uses
Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory, Weight loss
Cramps, Dermatitis
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
-
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
HYLOCEREUS undatus
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Pitahaya, Dragon fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Cinderella Plant, Jesus in the Cradle
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
Red Pitaya
Aleurites moluccanus
In German
Drachenfrucht, Distelbirne
Lichtnussbaum
In French
pitaya, fruit du dragon, cierge-lézard, poire de chardon
Aleurites moluccana
In Spanish
pitahaya roja (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela); flor de caliz, pitajava (Puerto Rico); junco, junco tapatio, pitahaya orejona, reina de la noche, tasajo (Mexico)
Aleurites moluccanus
In Greek
Φρούτο του δράκου (fruto tu draku)
Aleurites moluccanus
In Portuguese
pitaia, cato-barse, cardo-ananaz, rainha da noite
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Polish
Red Pitaya
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Latin
Red Pitaya
Aleurites moluccanus
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Euphorbiales
Family
Cactaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Hylocereus
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cacteae
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Crotonoideae
Importance of Red Pitaya and Kukui
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Red Pitaya and Kukui. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Red Pitaya and Kukui 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 Kukui is Cramps and Dermatitis. Red Pitaya has beauty benefits as follows: while Kukui has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Red Pitaya vs Kukui
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 Kukui 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 whereas of Kukui have Nausea and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Red Pitaya has showy fruits and Kukui has showy fruits. Also Red Pitaya is not flowering and Kukui is not flowering . You can compare Red Pitaya and Kukui facts and facts of other plants too.