Epiphytic or litofitny cactus with large triangular fleshy stems may reach several feet in length. Flowering from February to July, huge, very impressive, fragrant creamy-white flowers could be as big as 8.7"in diameter.
Blooming falls on night and lasts no more than one night. Pitahaya pollinated by insects and butterflies. Fruits are edible, with bright red skin and juicy white flesh with many small black seeds.
Pitahaya prefers to grow in bright light. It needs moderate watering though the year. Average temperature regime of 71° F to 93° F. May make short-term drop in temperature to 41° F. At lower temperatures dies.
Pitahaya is a quite demanding plant to soil composition.
Flesh Dragon Fruit is white and burgundy color, it contains many small black seeds and tastes like kiwi. The fruit weighs 0.3-1.3 lb, some specimens reach more.
The pulp is eaten raw, has a sweet taste and low calorie. Comments that pitahaya tasteless, extremely rare, although the taste may seem bland.
Is recommended pitahaya slightly chilled, not recommended to combine pitahaya with dishes with a sharp taste. In addition, pitahaya can make juice or wine, or used to flavor in other beverages.
Flowers are edible, they can also brew tea.
At present, these plants are cultivated in several countries in South-East Asia - such as Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Japan (O. Okinawa), China, Taiwan,
United States (Hawaii), Israel, northern Australia,Mexico, Central and South America.
Hylocereus blooms only at night; large white fragrant flowers typical cactus flower shape. Fruit sweet pitahaya has creamy white flesh and delicate flavor.
Nutritional value of Pitahaya
Pitahaya stimulates blood circulation and is useful in various diseases of the cardiovascular system and thyroid gland.
Pitahaya helps to control glucose blood sugar level in type II diabetes (and type I diabetes by some reports).
Pitaya fruit nutrient profile being full of Vitamin C and Dietary Fiber. The Pitaya nutritional benefits even include a high level of Pitahaya
fruit antioxidant levels. All these great dragon fruit nutrients make fresh dragon fruit or dried dragon fruit both great additions to a
healthy diet - and you get the nutrition benefits of Pitahaya from the dried or fresh fruit just as well.
