The American Beauty is a Hylocereus Guatemalensis hybrid dragon fruit with pink flesh. It grows quickly and can reproduce itself, which makes it a good choice for a first plant. The fruit is juicy and has a flavor that is just right.
Description
The American Beauty is a dragon fruit that grows well. The plant, like all dragons, likes a bit of shade on the ground. The branches are narrower and not as strong, but the plant can still grow well. It’s a very fertile plant that can make its own seeds. The American Beauty tree produces small to medium-sized pink-colored fruits. The fruit tastes sweet and can weigh between 200 and 450 grams.
Don’t wait too long to harvest, because a ripe fruit can burst when it rains. And don’t water the fruit two days before you want to pick it. Then, the taste gets less.
With the dragonfruit, you can add a unique, trailing cactus plant to your garden or patio. This fast-growing evergreen plant is popular not only for its delicious tropical fruit, but also because it can climb up any structure.
The American Beauty Dragon Fruit stands out because its stems have three sides and small spines. But its large, fragrant flowers are the real show stoppers. The Dragon Fruit blooms at night from early spring to fall, and its flowers close up in the morning. If you want to see your Dragon Fruit in bloom, go out late at night or early in the morning with a flashlight.
| Scientific name: | Hylocereus guatemalensis |
| Other names: | Pitahaya, Pitaya, dragon fruit |
| Plant type: | Cacti and houseplants |
| Foliage: | Evergreen |
| Growth stage: | Vegetative |
| Uses suggested: | for cooking and decorating |
| Pollination: | Self fertile |
| Growing zone: | 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B |
| Fruit taste: | Sweet taste |
| Skin color: | Pink |
| Flesh color: | Magenta |
| Height / length: | Mature Height 5-10 FT (2-3 m) |
| Mature width: | 9-11 FT |
| Spacing: | 8-10 FT |
| Bloom season: | Fall, Summer |
| Sun requirement / light: | Full to partial sun, exposure to the south, east, or west |
| Color of flower: | White |
| Outside color: | Red |
| Water: | Little water needed once established |
| Fertilization: | Fertilize in spring with a well-balanced fertilizer |
| Pruning: | Prune as needed to control growth and spread |
| Cold hardy: | 20-25° |
| Soil type: | Well drained |
| Drought tolerance: | Good |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Growth habit: | Climbing |
| Climate: | Continental, humid continental, humid subtropical, Mediterranean, temperate |
| Season of interest: | Autumn, Spring, Summer |
| Weather tolerance: | 2 out of 5 |
| Fruit production: | 3 out of 5 |
Dragon-fruit flowers bloom at night and have both male and female organs on the same flower. Moths and bees help pollinate the flowers at night and during the day, respectively. The plant grows well in the Americas and in places like Thailand and Vietnam.
Studies show that the average yield per acre can be as much as five tonnes.
Flowers & fruits
Pitahaya produces dragon fruit that are small to medium in size (200 to 450 grams). When the fruit is ready, the outside has a nice fade from green to pink. It is known for having fruit that grows well! This variety looks great, with skin that goes from green to pink in a nice fade. The average thickness of the skin is only 3 millimeters, so the ratio of flesh to rind is high.
This variety is also a good choice for people who are just starting out because it is known to bloom and make fruit reliably. This type of flower usually blooms in late summer because it likes to be hot. All dragon fruit plants, including this dragon fruit plant, like a little bit of shade on the ground.
After its large, beautiful, and fragrant flowers bloom, this plant makes delicious fruit. The skin of the fruit is red, and the tips of the “fins” are bright green. The flesh is rich and deep red on the inside, and it tastes pretty sweet. This variety is easy to care for and doesn’t need much work. It is self-fertile, so it doesn’t need to be cross-pollinated.
Flowers turn into the distinctive magenta fruits of the American Beauty, which can weigh up to a pound. The Dragon Fruit is bright pink on the outside and has green scales. The red flesh on the inside has black seeds that you can eat. The tropical and exotic fruit tastes great on its own or in juices or smoothies.
During the warmer months, your American Beauty Dragon Fruit can go through more than one blooming cycle. Once the plant is fully grown, it can go through 3–4 fruiting cycles. This Dragon Fruit is self-fertile, which means you don’t need another pollinator to get fresh, tropical fruits from it.
The pitaya loves the heat and humidity of warmer climates and will grow well outside in zones 10–11. In cooler climates, you can plant your Dragon Fruit in a pot and bring it inside when the weather gets cold. Grow your plant with a central support to help it grow a strong central trunk, or let the vines wrap around a container.
Disease almost killed this plant in 2014. It got a new start in 2015 after some tender loving care. Based on recent DNA tests, American Beauty and Bien Hoa Red are the same. But I think the fruit from Bien Hoa Red is a little bit bigger.
How to grow and care
Dragon Fruit is the bright and sweet fruit of cactus plants. It is also called “pitaya” or “pitahaya.” It’s not too hard to grow, especially in tropical or subtropical places.
Dragon fruit won’t grow in cold places, so make sure the temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep it from being hurt by the cold. Guard against hard freezes. Dragon fruit can be grown in pots or in the ground. Just bring your Dragon Fruit indoors for the winter.This fast-growing plant needs well-drained soil, full sun, and a strong trellis to support its weight. Don’t put too many plants in very large containers. Instead, gradually increase the size of the container as the plants grow. During the growing season, you should use a complete fertilizer. Don’t give the plant too much water in the winter to keep it from dying.
People say that each plant lives for 25 years. These have only been in our country for a short time. A fully grown plant will produce at least 15 fruits each season, and it will take three years for the plant to reach this point. Most plants will start making fruit within the first year.
Place
A spot with full sun is best. When you put a plant outside, it may go to sleep while it gets used to its new surroundings. Dragon Fruit cacti like a lot of light, so try to keep them out of places that are too dark. They also like soil that drains well. If grown in a pot, a sandy cactus potting mix works well. Avoid wet, soggy soils. If you live in a more temperate area, you can put the dragon fruit in a pot and bring it inside.
When choosing a site, it is best to have full sun in the morning and afternoon shade. Rich, sandy soil on top is best, as long as it drains well. Ph requirements are 6.0-7.5
Plants should be put anywhere between 8 and 12 inches apart. Plants are often grouped around a pole or a structure for climbing.
Instructions for planting
Many succulents and cacti are fragile, and if you don’t handle them carefully, pieces will break off easily. Carefully take the plant out of its pot by laying it on its side and tapping the sides of the pot lightly.
Cut slits down the sides of the root ball with garden shears or a sharp knife. This will help the roots grow faster into the new soil. Be careful not to cut too deeply into the main root system. The goal is to only score or cut through the secondary (or feeder) roots.
Plant in the ground or in a pot with sandy soil that drains well and is level with the soil line. Before planting, you can speed up the rate of growth by mixing a small amount of slow-release fertilizer into the lower level of the soil.
For a Dragon Fruit in a pot, make sure the roots have enough room to grow. Start with a container that is 10 inches or larger.
When it comes to watering, pitahaya cactus should be treated like a tropical cactus and given water when the soil is almost dry. A dripper at the top of the post is a good idea. If you plant your Dragon Fruit in a pot, make sure the pot has good drainage and don’t overwater it. If the roots of your Dragon Fruit sit in water, it will die.
When you prune, be careful and wear long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and pants. Cut off any cactus branches that touch each other, grow over each other, or touch the ground. You’ll want to leave space around the main branches so that the big flowers that bloom at night can grow. This will also make it easier to get the fruit.
Costs at the beginning
As they grow on a trellis, dragon fruits need an initial investment. These structures have to be strong because two or three saplings are grown around the same trellis, and when the plants are fully grown, they can weigh several hundred kilos.
The old bike tires on top are held up by four iron rods that stick out. This will allow the plants to spread out without crowding each other. The pollination and yield are better when each stem gets more sun and wind. We think that about 12$ was spent on each plant.
Soil, water and sun
Only water the soil when it’s dry, and any pots you use should have good drainage. Also, you should use soil that drains well. Cactus mixes are good, and they often have extra perlite and sand. Roots should not be wet for long periods of time. Most plants don’t need more water than once a week during the growing season (Spring and Summer) and less often during the dormant season (Winter). Bright indirect light is best, but they can also grow in the shade, though they may stretch out more.
Only water the soil when it’s dry, and any pots you use should have good drainage. Also, you should use soil that drains well. Cactus mixes are good, and they often have extra perlite and sand. Roots should not be wet for long periods of time.
Most plants don’t need more water than once a week during the growing season (Spring and Summer) and less often during the dormant season (Winter). Bright indirect light is best, but they can also grow in the shade, though they may stretch out more.
Size of container
All types of Dragon Fruit Cactus grow well in containers on the patio. Give the plant enough room to grow. Usually, a container with a totem that is 8 to 16 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep will do. Remember that your Pitaya Cactus will grow taller and be healthier if the roots are not too tight. When the roots are too close together, the plant won’t grow as fast. When this happens, it’s time to move the plant to a bigger pot.
Fertilizing
Fertilizer can hurt a Dragon Fruit cactus, and giving it too much can kill it. Low-nitrogen, slow-release cactus fertilizer should be used sparingly. Spread a balanced granular fertilizer once a month on plants that will grow in the ground. Pitahaya cacti don’t need much food, but if they don’t get any, they will grow very slowly and almost stop growing. Feed them every other month, but don’t give them too much food.
During the growing season, use fertilizer that is only half as strong. Before you water cuttings, you should let them dry out for a few days so they don’t take in too much water and rot. Avoid temperatures below freezing. The best temperature is above 60° F (15° C), but they can handle temperatures down to 40° F.
Dragon fruits come from a family of desert plants and don’t need much or any water. There needs to be a lot of sun and wind. They save you money because you don’t have to water them often or spray them with pesticides. More farmers think that they don’t need chemical pesticides and that cow dung, or ash, will work just fine.
Aside from irrigation and fertilizers, the type of soil is one of the most important things that affects yield. Only put the seedlings in the ground half a foot deep. Since dragon fruits have roots that grow in the air, the amount of soil and humus in the soil doesn’t matter as much for their growth.
Pollination
American Beauty Dragon Fruits can reproduce on their own. Even if you only have one plant, you will get fruit. But if you add another DF tree, the size of your crop will grow by a lot.
Harvesting
After flowering, your Dragon Fruit cactus should be ready to pick in 30 to 50 days. The bright green fruit will turn a red or pink color. A few spots on the skin are normal, but if there are a lot of dark spots, like bruises on an apple, it may be too ripe.
The “wings” can also show if a fruit is ready to eat or not. The leafy parts that stick out from the fruit are the wings. They will start to dry out and turn a little brown. They are now ready to be picked. If the wings are still yellow or red, that means the fruit isn’t quite ready yet.
You can get more Dragon Fruit plants by taking the seeds from the fresh fruit.
- Scoop out a piece of the ripe fruit with seeds and pulp, and wash the pulp off the seeds;
- Fill some pots that drain well with a sterile potting medium for seeds. You can buy the medium or mix equal parts of sand, peat moss, vermiculite, or perlite to make it yourself. Spread the seeds out over the top of the medium;
- Sprinkle a very thin layer of germinating medium over the seeds to just barely cover them;
- Lightly mist the soil and seeds when you plant them and when the soil feels dry to the touch before the seeds sprout;
- Cover the pot with a plastic lid or a glass to keep the air around the seeds moist and reduce the need to mist them all the time. You can also put a plastic bag around the pot to help keep the humidity up;
- Put the container with the seeds somewhere that gets bright but indirect light. For the best results, try to keep the temperature between 65 and 70 degrees ℉. Within 14 to 28 days, the seeds should start to grow. At this point, you can take the glass or plastic off the pot and let the surface dry out a bit between waterings.
Dragons grown from seeds might never have babies or have babies that don’t look like the originals. If a dragon is grown from a tissue culture or a seed, it can take 5 years or more for it to have babies.
How to care: short tips
- Temperature: Make sure the temperature inside stays above 35°. If you want plants to grow all year, keep the temperature above 60.
- Humidity: Don’t worry about humidity. can handle big changes without getting hurt.
- Watering: Let the potting mix dry out a bit between waterings, and then soak it well. Dry out more in the winter, especially if it is cool.
- Fertilizer: Add 12 teaspoon of fertilizer per gallon of water once a week. Use a balanced fertilizer, such as 7-9-5 or 10-10-10.
- Pruning: You can prune a plant whenever it gets too big, but the best time is after it has finished producing fruit, which is usually in late summer or fall. Flowers grow on the newest stems, so cutting them back will slow down fruiting.
- Insects and diseases: Mealybugs can be a problem if nearby plants are also infected. Leaf spot can happen to plants when the weather is cool and damp and the humidity is high. Root diseases can happen when plants are grown in cold, wet places.
Plant facts
- This fruit is very tasty and has a fuchsia-colored inside and a reddish-green outside. It has a thin rind and soft pulp, which makes it easy to break. It is good for selling locally;
- No one knows where it came from. it was first found in Guatemala, then moved to Florida, and then to California;
- Fruit is round, medium-sized, and weighs ~ 380 grams. The skin is greenish-red, and the flesh is fuchsia-colored;
- 18.51 Brix;
- It takes ~ 43 days from bloom to harvest, from June to November;
- The plant has thin, short, triangular stems with three clear ridges. The mature stems are dark green and brittle, and they send out many shoots. Pruning is necessary; the areoles have 1–2 spines that are 1–5 mm long; the segment between the areoles is quite convex and 36.45 mm long; the flowers are small, with white petals and a yellowish-green calyx and yellow anthers and stigma lobes;
- Average resistance to cold and heat;
- usually doesn’t do well in full sun; great commercial potential if grown in a protected area.
Conclusion
Need to change how your yard looks? The otherworldly beauty of the American Beauty Dragon Fruit is the best thing you could add. This unusual climbing cactus has brightly colored fruits that hang from vines that cascade down.
Your dragonfruit can be used in many ways to improve your yard. If you plant it near a fence or wall, it will climb and add its strong-smelling white flowers to your design.
This is one of the most strange plants we have. The American Beauty Dragon Fruit Cactus loves to climb on another tree, a trellis, or even a totem pole wrapped in burlap. To see its true beauty, you have to stay up late, because the huge 10–16-inch flowers only open at night and close again in the morning. The warm months of the year are when these flowers bloom, so it all depends on your climate.
But this cactus’s beautiful fruit is what makes it stand out. The inside and outside of these tasty beauties are bright pink, and they can get as big as a pound. With its reddish-pink color and green scales that look like dragon skin, the fruit is just as unique as the tree itself. Both the flesh and the seeds on the inside can be eaten. These seeds add texture.
People who like dragon fruit say it tastes like a mix of kiwi and pear.
The fruit tastes great when eaten fresh, and it also works well in smoothies and juices.
