How Does Dragon Fruit Grow?

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While in Maui, I set out to discover all of the produce that I have not yet been able to find in California. One of the crops I wanted to learn more about was dragon fruit (also known as pitaya or pitahaya). With that said, dragon fruit can be found growing on a small commercial scale in Southern California. At the farm I visited in Maui, Maui Dragon Fruit, they grow 16 dragon fruit cultivars and they were in season during our visit.

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What are Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit are colorful fruit, unlike anything you have ever seen before! They come in different white and pink variations, are full of seeds in the interior flesh and are not very juicy or very flavorful. 

Although dragon fruit have not quite become mainstream yet, they can be found in the produce sections of some larger grocery chains.

Dragon Fruit Color Variations

Dragon fruit come in three different color variations:

  1. Yellow skin with white flesh
  2. Pink skin with white flesh
  3. Pink skin with pink flesh
White-fleshed Dragon Fruit
White & Pink-Fleshed Dragon Fruit
Pink-fleshed Dragon Fruit

What does Dragon Fruit Taste Like?

They have more of a neutral taste. It is not like a juicy, ripe peach that you bite into and have to eat every last bite of. The seeds on the inside resemble those of kiwifruit, but the flavor does not. In other words, they look a lot more shocking than they taste.

How to Eat Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit are really easy to peel and can be eaten as is. However, one really exciting thing about dragon fruit is that the dark-fleshed fruit can be used as a natural food colorant.

How Does Dragon Fruit Grow?

Dragon fruit plants are cacti, and grow as vines in nature. At this particular operation, they use cement structures to prop the plants up and help them grow as vines. (I have seen in other operations where they use a wooden stake to prop up the plants.)

Dragon Fruit - Cement Stakes

Dragon Fruit Flowers

Just like with other plants, they flower first and then fruit. Dragon fruit flowers bloom at night and only stay open for approximately 24 hours. During this time, they need to be pollinated in order for fruit to set. Below is a great time-lapse video from Tasty Landscape demonstrating the bloom period.

How the Flowers Determine the Color of the Dragon Fruit

The flowers and tree design can be indicative of the type of fruit the vine will produce, depending on the flower color and amount of thorns on the vine. For example, if the flower has purple tips and heavy thorns, the fruit will be dark pink in color (picture on the left). If the flower is white or green with no additional color, the fruit will be white on the inside (picture on the right). There are also those examples that are in the middle that will produce a pink fruit that is not as deep in color as the first example.

Dragon Fruit - Pink Fleshed Fruit Flowers
Dragon Fruit - White Fleshed Fruit Flowers

When the flowers completely dry up, they are removed. The base of the flower is where the fruit grows. To prepare for continued fruit development, the area is covered by a bag in order to prevent pests (e.g., ants, birds) from disturbing the growing fruit. This operation is an organic farm and they do not use any sprays, so this is their chemical-free alternative.

Dragon Fruit - Netting over Fruit

If you have not yet tried dragon fruit, I encourage you to do so! I also encourage you to scope out your surroundings when visiting new places because you never know what you’ll find!

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How does dragon fruit grow

This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    Cool info I didn’t know. Gracias mi amigo!!

  2. Joseph

    How long does it take to get the first harvest after planting.

    1. Elaine

      I planted cuttings in February 2021. I had a few fruit 7 months later. This year I have about 20 buds on each trellis. Three flowers have already bloomed in April 2022.

  3. Elaine

    I planted cuttings in February 2021. I had a few fruit 7 months later. This year I have about 20 buds on each trellis. Three flowers have already bloomed in April 2022.

  4. Sarah

    Hello, your article is incorrect when it says that dragon fruit are not juicy or flavorful. You haven’t had the right ones at peak ripeness! Here in San Diego, dragon fruit ripened to perfection are SO good. Very juicy and sweet. My kids and I can’t wait for dragon fruit season here every year, they are just now starting to become ripe!! All varieties, yellow, white flesh and pink flesh are absolutely delicious. Find a home grower and try one!!

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