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red-fleshed dragon fruit

Selenicereus costaricensis

Family: Cactaceae · Genus: Selenicereus

costa rican pitaya, red pitaya

Placenta II Low No biomass production
Andrea Gantzer · CC BY · GBIF

An epiphytic, climbing cactus native to Central America and northwestern South America (from Nicaragua to northern Peru), grown for its deep red-fleshed dragon fruit. It grows in dry or deciduous forests, from sea level to about 1,400 m. It has large nocturnal flowers that require pollination for good fruit set. It is a CAM cactus, drought-tolerant.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Hylocereus costaricensis (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose, Cereus costaricensis F.A.C.Weber

Other common names: pitaia-vermelha

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta II
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Low
Strata
Low, Ground cover
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
None
Soil pH range
5.5–7
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy
Hardiness zones
10–12
Frost tolerance
-2.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
2–5 m
Recommended spacing
2–3 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Fast
Lifespan
15–30 years
Time to first harvest
18 months
Productive lifespan
20 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Red-fleshed dragon fruit takes the Low stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium Low · ≈5 m Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Cultivation is identical to the white pitaya: a sturdy support, well-drained soil, low watering. The red flesh is rich in betalains. Many cultivars are not self-fertile, requiring cross- or nocturnal hand-pollination.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Management identical to the white pitaya: train stems up the support to the top and let the crown hang, where fruiting concentrates. Tip the stem ends (formative pruning) to force branching and remove old, thin or inward stems (production pruning) to aerate and prevent fungal problems. Healthy pruned cuttings serve as propagules. Thinning excess buds favors larger fruit with red, betalain-rich flesh.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: November, December, January, February, March

Fruiting months: December, January, February, March, April

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of red-fleshed dragon fruit?

The first harvest of red-fleshed dragon fruit comes around 18 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for red-fleshed dragon fruit?

The recommended spacing for red-fleshed dragon fruit is 2–3 m.

How tall does red-fleshed dragon fruit grow?

At maturity, red-fleshed dragon fruit reaches 2–5 m tall.

When does red-fleshed dragon fruit fruit?

Fruiting of red-fleshed dragon fruit occurs in December, January, February, March, April.

When does red-fleshed dragon fruit flower?

Flowering of red-fleshed dragon fruit occurs in November, December, January, February, March.

What stage and stratum does red-fleshed dragon fruit occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, red-fleshed dragon fruit belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Ornamental 🍯 Melliferous 🐝 Attracts pollinators

Propagation

Cutting, Seed

Citations

  1. Wikipedia — Selenicereus costaricensis (scientific_name, biomes, synonyms)
  2. World of Succulents — Selenicereus costaricensis (functions, drought_tolerance, light_need)
  3. Gardening Know How — Growing Dragon Fruit (pruning, hardiness, fruiting) (pruning_notes, frost_tolerance_c, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  4. GBIF (gbif_taxon_key, scientific_name)

External references

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