Hawaiian Red Dragonfruit is a striking hybrid variety from the genus Hylocereus, selected and preserved by Spicy Exotics from a tropical California grower. This climbing cactus produces perfectly round fruits weighing one to one and a quarter pounds, with firm red flesh that tastes like cherries with a mild sweetness (averaging 16 brix). The plant thrives in full sun, tolerates drought well, and rewards you with showy nocturnal flowers: large blooms with white inner petals that fade to red on the yellow outer petals. In warm climates, this is a genuinely rewarding specimen that combines ornamental drama with genuinely delicious fruit.
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The flesh is pure red and firm, packed with tiny crunchy seeds and tasting distinctly of cherries with a subtle sweetness. Fruits are perfectly round with curling fins that give them an almost architectural beauty, and they're also notably high in lycopene, a natural antioxidant. The flowers are equally spectacular: massive blooms that open a couple of hours after dusk and close a couple hours after sunrise, with white inner petals and yellow outer petals that fade to deep red at the tips. Growers rate this variety at 5/5 for flavor and fruit production, making it both a visual and culinary standout.
This is primarily grown for fresh eating. The firm red flesh and cherry-like flavor make it excellent eaten fresh, either scooped directly from the fruit with a spoon or cubed and added to fruit salads. The high lycopene content also positions it as a nutritional food crop valued by gardeners interested in growing their own disease-fighting antioxidants at home.
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Harvest fruits when they are fully ripe and deeply red, typically one to one and a quarter pounds. The fruit should yield slightly to gentle pressure when ripe. Cut the fruit from the plant using a clean knife, taking care to avoid the plant's medium spines. The nocturnal flowers open a couple hours after dusk and close a couple hours after sunrise, so flowers are visible primarily during evening and early morning hours.
Guide and train the immense three-sided growth onto a sturdy trellis or support structure to manage the plant's natural tendency to curl and twist. Remove any crossing or overcrowded stems to maintain air circulation and light penetration, which supports flowering and fruiting. Be mindful that hair-like spines on young tender growth are fragile and will break off if touched, so handle new growth gently during training.
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“This hybrid variety was collected by Spicy Exotics from a tropical grower in California, preserving a selection from the Hylocereus genus that represents decades of careful cultivation in warm climates. The variety shares genetic ancestry with Hylocereus costaricensisis but was selected specifically for its superior fruit characteristics: the perfectly round shape, deeper red coloring, curling fins, and enhanced sweetness that distinguish it from its wild relatives. By documenting and sharing this variety, Spicy Exotics has made a remarkable dragonfruit selection accessible to gardeners far beyond its original tropical home.”