White Flesh / Red Skin Dragon Fruit / Pitaya "Delight" -Hylocereus guatemalensis & Hylocereus und...

The dragon fruit / pitaya plant is a climbing cactus vine that grows well in dry areas. Because of its epiphytic nature, it grows best in soil with a high level of organic materials. The flowers are white and large sometimes measuring 30cm and larger. They are ornate and produce a sweet fragrance when in bloom. The flowers bloom for one night only. Dragon fruits are also called cactus fruits. They are closely related to the orchid cacti or epiphyllum. Epiphyllums are known for their large and impressive flowers. The fruit is popularly eaten raw and tastes better chilled. It is also served as a juice. The flesh is sweet and sometimes served with mango in a tropical sorbet. Dragon fruits reputedly improve eyesight and prevent hypertension. The seeds of the fruit supposed help in controlling blood glucose levels in people with non-insulin-dependent hyperglycaemic conditions (a kind of diabetes). It is also used to treat stomach and endocrine problems.

Delight is a hybrid variety from Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus guatemalensis. It is a very fertile and self-pollinating variety that will set fruit on its own. We recommend hand pollination to ensure fruit of even greater size.  This variety is a seedling selection made by the California Rare Fruit Growers. Delight is the 3-S seedling created by Paul Thomson. It is one of the several crosses from the Niezel, a white flesh variety and Rixford, a purple flesh variety.

Delight has medium-sized fruit that typically weighs 450g. The flesh has a unique pink colour and has a delightful flavor, and this is where it gets its name. Stems are green three-sided with small spines along the rib.

Flowers are enormous at over 350mm across and blooms nocturnally all summer.