Dragon fruit (Selenicereus undatus)

Dragon fruit is the fruit of a climbing cactus from Central America, now a fast-growing orchard crop in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The common white-fleshed type has pink skin with green-tipped scales and mild, sweet pulp dotted with tiny black seeds. Older books call the plant Hylocereus undatus. Gujarat renamed the fruit kamalam in 2021, after its lotus-like shape.

Botanical name: Selenicereus undatus (Haw.) D.R.Hunt
Family: Cactaceae
Tamil: Dragon fruit
Hindi: Dragon fruit
Parts used: Ripe fruit
Habit: Climbing cactus; the night flower and the seedy pulp are cuisine
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Dragon fruit

The stems are green, jointed and three-winged, with wavy edges and short spines in small groups.

Stems climb and cling with aerial roots, so farms train them up concrete posts topped with a ring or frame.

The huge white, scented flowers can be about thirty centimetres long and open for a single night.

The oval fruit has bright pink to red skin covered with leafy scales and white flesh full of small, black, edible seeds.

Red-fleshed dragon fruits come from related Selenicereus species.

Traditional use of Dragon fruit

Kitchen

The fruit is cut in half and scooped, cubed into fruit salads, or blended into smoothies and ice cream.

Indian and South-east Asian food practice

Kitchen

In Vietnam, a major exporter, the flower buds are also cooked as a vegetable.

Vietnamese food practice

Farming

Farmers plant stem cuttings at the foot of posts and get first fruit in about a year to eighteen months.

Indian orchard practice

Modern notes on Dragon fruit

The fruit is low in calories and supplies fibre, vitamin C and magnesium, and the small seeds contain oil.

Red-fleshed types contain betacyanin pigments that can turn urine pink or red, which is harmless.

Its popularity in India grew after 2015, and the government has promoted it for dry areas because the plant needs little water.

Dragon fruit safety

It is a safe food for most people. Allergy is rare. Handle the stems with gloves because of the spines.

Ecology and sourcing

In its native forests, bats and large moths pollinate the night flowers.

Many cultivated plants need pollen from another variety, so growers often hand-pollinate at night.

It stores water in its stems and tolerates drought, but not frost or waterlogging.

Related plants

Also in Cactaceae

Questions about Dragon fruit

Why is Dragon fruit called kamalam?

Gujarat renamed it in 2021 because the fruit looks like a lotus.

Is the skin edible?

It is usually discarded; only the flesh and seeds are eaten.

Why does the flower of Dragon fruit open at night?

It evolved for bat and moth pollination.

How do I pick a ripe fruit?

Choose evenly coloured fruit that gives slightly to gentle pressure.

Can Dragon fruit grow in Bangalore?

Yes. It does well in sunny, well-drained spots with a support post.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.