Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus, Fruit
Cactus or Succulent, Ornamental Plants, Perennial
Origin
Caribbean, Central America
Madagascar
Types
Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus costaricensis, Hylocereus megalanthus
P. ambongense P. baronii P. bicolor P. bispinosum P. brevicaule P. cactipes P. decaryi P. densiflorum P. eburneum P. geayi P. gracilius
Number of Varieties
3192
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Rocky areas, Terrestrial
Rocky areas, Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-159-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
240.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Gold
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Red
Gray Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Toothed
Long Narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, reseeds, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the Soil well drained
Drought Tolerant, Reduce watering in winter
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, Moist, Sand, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in winter, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, fertilize in early summer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Dry root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Semi-Double
Single
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
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
-
Allergy
-
poisonous if ingested, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
As decorated salad, Beautification
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Borders, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antidiabetic, Appetite enhancer, increase memory, Weight loss
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
-
Other Uses
-
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
HYLOCEREUS undatus
PACHYPODIUM lamerei
Common Name
Pitahaya, Dragon fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Strawberry Pear, Belle of the Night, Cinderella Plant, Jesus in the Cradle
Madagascar Palm, Club Foot
In Hindi
Red Pitaya
Madagascar palm
In German
Drachenfrucht, Distelbirne
Madagaskarpalme
In French
pitaya, fruit du dragon, cierge-lézard, poire de chardon
Pachypodium de Madagascar
In Spanish
pitahaya roja (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela); flor de caliz, pitajava (Puerto Rico); junco, junco tapatio, pitahaya orejona, reina de la noche, tasajo (Mexico)
Palma de Madagascar
In Greek
Φρούτο του δράκου (fruto tu draku)
Pachypodium
In Portuguese
pitaia, cato-barse, cardo-ananaz, rainha da noite
Palmeirinha-de-madagáscar, Palmeira-de-madagáscar
In Polish
Red Pitaya
Pachypodium
In Latin
Red Pitaya
Mandacaru
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Caryophyllales
Gentianales
Family
Cactaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Hylocereus
pachypodium
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Cacteae
Malouetieae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Apocynoideae
Number of Species
2025
1
27800
👆🏻