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Dragon fruit

Selenicereus undatus

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Dragon fruit · Selenicereus undatus

A climbing cactus with aerial roots, huge white night flowers and red fruit with white flesh; drought-tolerant but spiny.

Care and placement

Tolerates full sun to part shade and well-drained soil, even poor soil, with a preferred pH of 5.3–6.7 (PFAF). Drought-tolerant, with best daytime temperatures of 18–28 °C and 12–34 °C tolerated (USDA 10–12); PFAF notes rainfall of 300–3,500 mm. A climbing cactus with aerial roots and stems up to 7 m, so it needs a post or frame.

Draft mature dimensions

Maximum height (cm): 400 cm · Maximum spread (cm): 200 cm

Things to consider

PFAF warns that it has spines or sharp edges and needs extreme caution when handled (Wikipedia: spines 1–4 mm long on adult branches). No official toxicity rating exists for children, dogs or cats, so it is not claimed safe. The long, heavy climbing stems need a very strong post, and it should not stand near narrow paths, gates or play areas.

Unknown evidence does not mean safe. Decorative plants are not automatically edible.

Information is compiled from multiple reputable sources for reference. If you spot an error, please contact us so we can check and update it.

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How to grow and care for it

  1. Planting and pot

    Pick a sunny or part-shade spot with free drainage (a large draining pot also works). Erect a very strong post or frame first, since stems reach 7 m (PFAF) and Wikipedia says it can climb 10 m or more. Leave room for the stems to spill around the top and keep thorns away from paths.

  2. Light

    PFAF: grows in part shade or full sun. Where the sun is fierce, shade a young plant at midday (our inference; the sources do not say); it needs light to flower.

  3. Watering

    PFAF: it prefers dry or moist soil and tolerates drought, with suitable rainfall of 300–3,500 mm a year. Water sparingly, only once the soil is dry deep down, and make sure it drains; waterlogging is the main risk for a cactus (our inference).

  4. Feeding

    The sources give no feeding schedule. PFAF says it tolerates nutritionally poor soil, so add well-rotted organic matter at planting and feed only lightly to the label when it buds (general practice; the sources do not say).

  5. Pruning

    The sources do not cover pruning. Thin old, straggly and ground-touching stems for air and easy picking; wear thick gloves and eye protection because of the spines (PFAF). Cut stems can be used as cuttings.

  6. Propagation

    PFAF: by seed or stem cuttings; cuttings are usually dried for one to two weeks before planting. The plant is self-fertile but cross-pollination improves fruit set; the night flowers are pollinated by bats and moths, and PFAF recommends hand pollination for good yields.

  7. Pests and common problems

    The sources I read do not name the main pests and diseases. For a cactus, waterlogging and stem rot are the usual risks: if a stem turns soft, cut away the damaged part and keep the soil drier (our inference). The spines are the main safety risk when tending it.

  8. For heavy fruiting

    For fruit: enough sun, a strong post, sparse watering and hand pollination on the night the flowers open. PFAF: it often fruits 1–3 years after planting, with harvest about 30–50 days after flowering and 4–6 fruiting cycles a year. Fruit is 7–12 cm long; Wikipedia says the scented night flowers are 25–30 cm long.