The La Verne Red dragon fruit is a unique and delicious variety of the popular tropical fruit. This vibrant delicacy has been gaining popularity in recent years due to its sweet flavor and numerous health benefits.
Description
La Verne Red Dragon Fruit is a hybrid variety that comes from the genus Hylocereus, the species guatemalensis, and another unknown species. It gets its name from the nursery in Southern California where it is grown on a large scale and sold as plants. This variety grows just like most other Hylocereus guatemalensis species, with few spines.
La Verne Nursery is where the La Verne Donavan dragon fruit comes from. The bracts on the fruit are very long and give it a very unique, elegant look. The plant itself grows quickly and is tough. The fruit’s flesh is a beautiful deep purple / bright purple or pink color, and it usually weighs between 1 and 1.5 pounds.
| Type: | Succulent epiphytic vining, terrestrial cactus |
| Foliage season: | Evergreen |
| USDA hardiness zone (°F): | 8 (10 to 20 °F), 9 (20 to 30 °F), 10 (30 to 40 °F) |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Flower color: | White |
| Water needs: | Medium, even moisture - regular |
| Soil type: | Peat, sand |
| Soil pH: | Neutral |
| Size: | Height: 6'-20', width: 6'-20' |
| Flavor: | 5 out of 5 |
| Fruit production: | 3 out of 5 |
| Appearance: | 5 out of 5 |
| Home planting: | 4 out of 5 |
| Commercial planting: | 3 out of 5 |
The look of La Verne Red Dragon Fruits is very appealing. The fins on the fruit are longer than usual and have a wavy look, just like the stems. From flower to fruit, which weighs a pound, takes 30 days. The fruits are also oval, while most species in Guatemala are round.
The flowers of Lavern are some of the biggest and most unusual-looking flowers in the world. They can get as big as 25 cm across and are about 30 cm long. The flowers only bloom for one night and have a beautiful, fruity, exotic scent.
As with most Hylocereus Guatemalensis species, this one has few spines. However, unlike most, when it gets older, the segments start to twist. The flowers are said to be sterile on their own and need to be pollinated by other flowers.
Conclusion
The large, beautiful fruit is oval, which is different from other Guatemalensis. It has red skin with long green fins. The flesh is soft and bright purple, and the seeds are crunchy. It tastes like a sweet and sour tropical melon grape. The average weight is 1-1.5 pounds, and the Brix is between 15 and 19 depending on how ripe it is. 21 days from bud to flower, 30 days from flower to ripe fruit.
