Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya or pitahaya, is a tropical fruit recognized by its vibrant pink or yellow skin and scaly appearance. It is celebrated for its mildly sweet flavor and tiny black edible seeds. Its unusual shape often leads people to wonder whether this fruit grows on a tree or a cactus.
The Definitive Answer: Dragon Fruit is a Cactus
Dragon fruit does not grow on a tree; it is produced by a specific type of cactus, primarily species within the genus Hylocereus. This plant is a perennial, climbing, vine-like cactus, distinct from the typical desert cacti. The botanical classification places it firmly within the Cactaceae family, the same family as prickly pear. Unlike many fruit-bearing plants, the dragon fruit plant has fleshy, three-sided stems rather than woody trunks or branches.
The plant’s stems have a waxy cuticle that helps them conserve water. These stems can grow to significant lengths, often reaching 20 feet or more when supported. The plant is a semi-epiphyte, meaning it can grow either in the soil or anchored onto other structures, a trait common among tropical climbing cacti. This sprawling growth habit allows the plant to cover the large support structures used in commercial cultivation.
Understanding Its Unique Growth Habit
In their native Central and South American habitats, these cacti use aerial roots along their stems to cling and climb up the trunks of trees, which are used purely for physical support. The plant does not draw nutrients from the host tree, making it distinct from a parasitic vine.
In cultivation, growers mimic this natural habit by providing sturdy poles, concrete columns, or wooden trellises for the cactus to ascend. The plant is trained to climb up this central support, and once it reaches the top, the stems are allowed to cascade downward. This downward-hanging growth encourages flowering and fruit production, creating a form observers mistake for a small, oddly shaped tree. The thick, segmented, green stems are succulent and jointed, demonstrating the plant’s identity as a vine-like member of the cactus family.
The Night Blooming Flower and Fruit Production
The reproductive cycle of the dragon fruit cactus occurs primarily at night. The plant produces large, highly fragrant flowers, sometimes called “Moonflowers” or “Queen of the Night.” These white blossoms typically open only after dusk and wilt by sunrise, lasting for a single night.
This brief blooming window necessitates nocturnal pollination, naturally carried out by creatures like bats and large moths in its native range. For commercial production, hand-pollination is often necessary to ensure a substantial yield. Once successfully pollinated, the flower rapidly develops into the colorful fruit, which is considered a fleshy berry. The fruit requires a relatively short time to mature, ripening and ready for harvest approximately 30 to 50 days after successful pollination.