Dragon Fruit
Hylocereus undatus “Dragon Fruit”

This is not your normal idea of cactus for so many reasons. For one thing, it is a vine that can grow to 20' in a season. Even in hot Texas, this cactus is viable in 10a through 11 as a landscape addition. For central Texans, plant it in a large container where the vine can climb up an arbor.

You will want to harvest the fruit when it begins to ripen in fall. The exterior of the ripened fruit is red, but the flesh is white with black seeds. So many names and none of them describe how tasty the fruit is! This edible cactus is more often called Red Pitaya in the Middle East, Strawberry Pear in California and Night Blooming Cereus in Arizona and New Mexico. Hawaiian know it best as Queen of the Night. Whatever you choose to call it, it's a beautiful container plant in the hot garden. Dragon Fruit does best in full to partial sun, but will accept light or high shade. It does have spines so use caution when harvesting that luscious fruit!

Hawaiian Fruit Salad: Clean and chop approximately 1 cup of dragon fruit and 2 cups of mixed fresh fruit per salad portion. Fruit options that complement but do not overpower dragonfruit include banana, light orange segments, strawberries, blueberries and melons. Dress with a combination of 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive juice or virgin olive oil, and 2 to 3 finely diced mint. Chill the mixed salad for a minimum of one hour and serve the same day for freshest taste.
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