Red Dragon Fruit

Red Dragon Fruit is a fast-growing, climbing cactus prized for its spectacular night-blooming flowers and vibrant pink fruit with deep red flesh. Well suited to Brisbane and SEQ conditions, it’s a productive and ornamental edible plant ideal for warm climates, provided it has full sun, excellent drainage, and strong support to climb.

Quick Overview:

• Common Name: Red Dragon Fruit
• Botanical Name: Hylocereus undatus
• Origin: Central and South America; widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions
• Height & Width: Climbing vine up to 6–10 m with support; spread depends on training and structure
• Growth Habit: Vigorous, climbing, vine-like cactus requiring a trellis, post, or frame
• Foliage: Thick, fleshy green segmented stems
• Flowers: Large, fragrant white flowers that open at night and close by morning
• Fruit: Bright pink skin with vibrant red flesh and tiny black edible seeds
• Position: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with organic matter
• Tolerance: Heat tolerant and drought tolerant once established; frost sensitive
• Maintenance: Moderate; requires training, occasional pruning, and support maintenance
• Etymology: Hylocereus comes from Greek hylē (woodland) and cereus (cactus), referring to its climbing cactus habit

Detailed Description:

Red Dragon Fruit is both an eye-catching ornamental and a rewarding fruiting plant. Its dramatic night-blooming flowers are among the largest of any cactus and are followed by striking fruit with sweet, mildly flavoured red flesh. The plant’s climbing habit makes it ideal for training over posts, pergolas, or purpose-built dragon fruit frames.

In Brisbane and SEQ, dragon fruit thrives in warm, sunny positions with excellent drainage. Although drought tolerant once established, regular watering and feeding during the warmer months significantly improves growth, flowering, and fruit set. Good airflow and pruning help keep plants healthy and productive over the long term.

Growth and Maintenance:

• Watering: Water regularly during establishment; once established, water moderately—avoid waterlogged soil
• Fertilising: Feed with organic compost or a balanced fertiliser during the growing season
• Mulching: Mulch lightly to retain moisture and improve soil health, keeping mulch clear of the stem base
• Support: Provide a strong trellis, post, or frame to support climbing growth

Pruning:

• Training: Tie and train stems up the support to encourage vertical growth
• Productivity: Prune excess or damaged stems to improve airflow and fruiting
• Maintenance: Remove old or overcrowded growth to keep the plant manageable

Common Uses:

• Backyard edible gardens in Brisbane and SEQ
• Climbing feature plant on trellises or frames
• Tropical and subtropical fruit gardens
• Container growing with strong vertical support
• Home fruit production for fresh eating and desserts

Planting Benefits:

• Striking Edible Fruit: Bright pink fruit with vibrant red flesh and edible seeds
• Night-Blooming Flowers: Large, fragrant flowers create a dramatic display
• Heat Loving: Thrives in warm climates with minimal fuss once established
• Productive Climber: High yields when well-supported and properly maintained