Yellow Pitaya
Hylocereus megalanthus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

Native to South America, Hylocereus megalanthus or Yellow Pitaya is a succulent, climbing shrub that can grow on branches of trees of on the ground. It produces aerial roots. It is often cultivated for its fruits. The ovoid yellow fruit has a succulent pulp with a sweet flavor. The plant can be grown from seeds or stem cuttings.

Hylocereus megalanthus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

Not known

S. America - Peru, Colombia, Ecuador.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South America,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw. A succulent pulp with a sweet flavour. Some forms have a thin skin and an extremely delicious flavour. The fruit is around 12cm long and 7cm wide. Immature fruits have tufts of thin spines, but these fall off naturally as the fruit ripens.

Medicine

Rating: 3

Higher in calcium then red dragon fruit. High in protein. High in antioxidants. High in dietary fiber. A good source of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Small amounts of iron, vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Niacin. Seeds contain good amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content

Other

Rating: 2

Agroforestry Uses: The plant can be used to make a beautiful flowering hedge.

Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Hedge: Hedge

How it is grown

Plants can tolerate very high temperatures, and also occasional low temperatures to 0°c. Often an epiphytic plant, though it also grows on the ground. Requires a well-drained soil and a pH of 6 or lower.

Propagating it: Seed - Stem cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Yellow Pitaya, chaulmoogra, chaulmoogra oil tree, chaulmoograträd, chaulmugra, cholmugra, nirati, tuvaraka.

Synonyms

Cereus megalanthus K.Schum. ex Vaupel Mediocactus megalanthus (K.Schum. ex Vaupel) Britton & Rose Se