Sweet As Candy Dragonfruit is a hybrid of Selenicereus megalanthus and Hylocereus guatemalensis that delivers an uncommon gift: dragonfruit with virtually no acidity and a sweetness that rivals tropical candy. First harvested commercially in 2021, this three-sided green climber produces smaller, rounder fruits than its Hylocereus parent, but the flesh tells the real story, dark purple, semi-firm, and tasting more like the sweet profile of Selenicereus megalanthus than the sharp tang most dragonfruit lovers expect. Rated 5/5 for flavor, growing, and fruit production, it thrives in full sun and handles drought well.
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The breakthrough here is flavor purity. When the first fruits were tested, they measured just above 20 brix with virtually no acidity, a dramatic departure from typical Hylocereus guatemalensis, which tends toward tartness. You get the climbing vigor and manageable size of a three-sided green stem, but the sweet purple flesh and taste profile of Selenicereus megalanthus compressed into smaller, rounder fruits. Once the plant matures, growth becomes aggressive, rewarding patient growers with prolific flowering and reliable fruit set.
As a fresh fruit, Sweet As Candy dragonfruit is eaten raw, the semi-firm, low-acid purple flesh and high sugar content (above 20 brix) make it naturally suited to eating fresh from the plant or chilled. The sweetness without acidity also suggests use in fruit bowls, smoothies, or anywhere you want dragonfruit flavor without the tartness of standard varieties.
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Dragonfruit mature when the skin becomes fully colored (deep magenta-pink or bright red, depending on the plant stage) and yields slightly to gentle pressure. The fruit should detach easily from the stem with a light twist or pull, if it resists, it needs more time. Harvest in the early morning or evening when the plant is coolest. Use clean pruners if needed to avoid damaging the stem. Fruits typically ripen within 25 to 35 days after flowering.
As a climbing cactus with three-sided green stems, Sweet As Candy will benefit from structural training rather than heavy pruning. Direct stems onto your trellis or support system while young to establish the shape you want. Once established, remove any dead, diseased, or crossing stems. Light pruning after harvest can encourage branching and denser flowering in the following season, but avoid excessive cutting, which stresses the plant and reduces fruit production.
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“Sweet As Candy represents a deliberate hybrid cross between two dragonfruit species selected for complementary traits. Spicy Exotics, the nursery that acquired and developed this variety, sourced the original genetics from California and pursued crossing Selenicereus megalanthus, known for its sweetness, with Hylocereus guatemalensis, valued for its vigor and growth habit. The first commercial harvest arrived in 2021, marking the moment this hybrid moved from breeding bench to actual fruit production. The variety embodies the modern work of specialty nurseries to reimagine familiar tropical fruits for flavor and performance.”