Native & adapted

Dragon fruit

Selenicereus undatus

Also known as Pitaya · Pitahaya · Strawberry pear · Hylocereus undatus · Thanh long

A climbing cactus with huge white night flowers and bright fruit. It grows well in Phoenix on a sturdy post if shaded from the harshest summer sun.

EdibleFruitingClimbing cactusPollinatorNight blooming

Landscape layersClimbing

Mature size

Vine 10–20 ft long; trained on a 5–6 ft post it forms a 4–6 ft wide umbrella

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b

Plant spacing

6–10 ft between posts

Frost

Stems damaged at 32°F; plants killed below about 28°F without cover.

Special categories

EDIBLE · POLLINATOR ATTRACTING

Hardiness guidance

USDA 10–11; stems damaged near 32°F and killed below about 28°F

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Fruit ripens about 30 to 50 days after each bloom, in flushes from July to November.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Soil chemistry

Fast-draining soil rich in compost. Tolerates alkaline soil better than most tropicals.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

East-facing wall or under shade cloth in summer, with frost cover in winter.

Cold hardiness

Cover on every frost night

Stems are damaged by long stretches below about 31°F, though they bounce back from a light frost. Cover on any night forecast near freezing, especially young plants.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 31°F

Heat tolerance

Needs afternoon shade

Stems sunburn badly in dry, high-sun climates, and growth suffers over 100°F. Give it shade cloth (about 30%) or an east-facing spot with afternoon shade.

Sources:

journals.flvc.org , ucanr.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Dragon fruit grow at your Arizona property?

Needs a strong post or trellis about 5 to 6 ft tall. A 15-gallon or larger pot works well and can be moved into shade in summer.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun in spring and fall; 30 to 50% shade from June to September, when stems sunburn yellow.

Water

Irrigation

Moderate. Much more than desert cacti: water weekly in summer, and keep it barely moist in winter.

Fruit set

Pollination

Some varieties are self-fertile; others need a second variety. Hand pollinating with a brush at night greatly improves fruit set.

Harvest

How to use it

Scoop the chilled flesh with a spoon, or blend it into drinks and bowls.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Dragon fruit thrive

1
Tie stems to the post until they reach the top, then let them drape over.
2
Shade from mid-summer sun with 30 to 50% shade cloth.
3
Hand pollinate between two varieties after dark for a heavier crop.
4
Cover with frost cloth on nights below 32°F.

Read the horticultural reference ↗