Selenicereus megalanthus

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This cactus originates from Bolivia, Equador, Peru and Columbia. It's greatly known for it's sweet tasting fruit. Knobbed, yellow cactus fruit sharing some similarities with the dragon fruit (pitaya). Taste is said to be superior to most cactus fruits. The fruit is popular eaten chilled, out of hand. It is also used to flavor drinks and pastries.

A vining, terrestrial or epiphytic cactus, with fleshy stems reaching from a few inches up to 20ft long (in mature plants). The fruits are smaller than the common dragon fruit, and contain prominent spikes until ripening time, upon which the spikes drop off. Prefers partial sun and can tolerate down to 32F, but typically doesn't want to see below 40F. The vines tolerate very high temperatures as well.

Commercially grown to a limited extent in Columbia. Fruits are occasionally exported to Europe and Canada.

Lean more:

Pitaya page

What to do with a Dragon fruit?

Similar plants:

• Cryptocereus anthonyanus, Selenicereus anthonyanus (Anthonys Rick-Rack, Zig-Zag Cactus, Fishbone Orchid Cactus)
• Selenicereus chrysocardium, Epiphyllum chrysocardium, Marniera chrysocardium (Marniera, Fern Leaf)
• Selenicereus grandiflorus (Queen of the Night, Large-flowered Cactus, Sweet-Scented Cactus, Vanilla Cactus)
• Selenicereus hondurensis (Honduran Moon-Torch Cactus, Queen of the Night, Night Blooming Cereus)
• Selenicereus macdonaldiae (Queen of the Night)
• Selenicereus pteranthus, Cereus pteranthus (Princess of the Night)
• Selenicereus setaceus, Hylocereus setaceus (Pineapple Cactus)
• Selenicereus sp. (Moonlight Cactus)
• Selenicereus wercklei, Cereus wercklei (Queen of the Night, Flor de la Luna)
• Strophocactus wittii, Selenicereus wittii (Amazon Moonflower)