General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10b +1.7 °C (35 °F) to +4.4 °C (40 °F)
Plant Height: Climbs 6 to 25 feet or more
Fruit: Showy
Other: While most Dragon Fruit have red rind and white flesh, the flesh of H. costaricensis has red-purple flesh.
Fruiting Time: Summer
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Nocturnal
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: 6"-12"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Espalier
Edible Parts: Fruit
Eating Methods: Raw
Cooked
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Other: Allow cut end to dry and callous over before planting.
Pollinators: Bats
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Suitable for hanging baskets
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Costa Rican Night Blooming Cactus
  • Costa Rican Pitahaya
  • Costa Rican Dragon Fruit
  • Purple Dragon Fruit
  • Strawberry Pear Cactus
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Selenicereus costaricensis
  • Synonym: Hylocereus costaricensis

Photo Gallery
Location: Turkiye
Date: 2023-10-23
Turkish grown, lucky find among vendors
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: August 2016

photo credit: ~Sheeba -Drummer~

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