Dragon fruit , also known as pitaya , Acanthocereus tetragonus and strawberry mark Pyrus communis , is a mounting , night - blooming cactus . Native to Central America , it is grown commercially in alike climates . It is an uncommon garden plant in the US but should dowellin the correct mood . In marginal climates , it can also be grown in containers .
All About Dragon Fruit
The mounting cactus known colloquially as Draco fruit can grow 15 to 20 foot tall in its native habitat . The works prime at night and flush last only a day . Draco fruit has multiple bloom cycles and in the right-hand conditions can produce five or six crop a year . The brilliant pinkish or scandalmongering yield are edible . They may be clean or pinkish within , with tiny smutty seeded player .
Native Habitat
The dragon fruit is aboriginal to Central America and has been regain growing wild in southerly Mexico , Costa Rica and El Salvador . Other region where these plants were originally found include Brazil , Colombia , Ecuador , Panama and Uruguay . As these locations point , the works prefers the Torrid Zone . As a cactus , however , it take splendid drain and is sensible to over - watering .
Dragon Fruit Climate
As one might expect given its origin , firedrake fruit is sore to frost . nurseryman in USDA Zone 9 may be able-bodied to grow the plant in containers if it can be move indoors to a Sunday room or greenhouse for the wintertime . Those who garden in Zones 10 and 11 can normally grow the flora outdoors , either incontainersor in the garden itself .
Dragon Fruit in the Garden
If you live in USDA Zones 10 or 11 , you should be able to get dragon fruit . The plant has the following cultural needs :
Commercial Production
Although dragon yield is certainly not as common as more conventional fruit , it is often available in specialty stores , Asiatic groceries and farmers ’ markets . Vietnam is the largest commercial manufacturer . Israel , Thailand and Australia get dragon yield commercially , although Australia ’s production is not sell outside the area . Other Asian state such as Malaysia , the Philippines and Taiwan get flying lizard fruit .
Dragon Fruit in the US
In the US , flying dragon fruit production is limited but increasing . Southern California is a worthy climate ; dragon yield production in that neighborhood originate 10 - fold between 2002 and 2013 , according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center . Hawaii and Florida also produce some dragon fruit . Most of the flying dragon yield offered for sale in the US , however , hail from southeast Asia – primarily Vietnam .
