Dragon fruits

Native to Mexico, Central and South America, the dragon fruit plant is a cactus. Each fruit starts out as a flower that blooms just once in the dark. Although you've probably seen dragon fruit that's hot pink on the outside with white flesh inside, dragon fruit actually comes in a spectrum of colors including pink on the outside and inside, yellow on the outside and white on the inside and white on the outside and inside. All have tiny, edible black seeds like kiwi seeds. Pink-fleshed dragon fruit is sweeter than the white variety. The grower’s sticker on the fruit should indicate the flesh color. If not, size and shape are a clue: pink-fleshed dragon fruit is round with short wings (the petal-shaped pieces on the outside of the fruit) while white-fleshed dragon fruit is elongated with long wings. When picking dragon fruit at the market, look for fruit that is heavy for its size (pick up several and you’ll notice a difference) because that will be the juiciest fruit. The fruit itself should be consistently pink on the outside, with no signs of bruises. Dragon fruit is a bit firm when ripe but will give under the pressure of your thumb if you squeeze it, like a ripe avocado. When dragon fruit is ripe, its wings will dry out, turning yellow with some brown at their tips. When you buy them, leave them on the counter until they reach that stage and then they’re ready to eat. When dragon fruit is ripe, it’s soft and juicy, so cutting it in half and eating it right out of its pe...

Known for their hot-pink, spike-covered exterior, dragon fruits are one of the more tropical fruits widely available in American supermarkets. Also known as pitaya, dragon fruit has white and sweet, seed-speckled pulp. It grows on a climbing cactus called Hylocereus, which is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America but will grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 12. Botanical Name Hylocereus Common Name Dragon fruit, pitaya Plant Type Perennial, cactus, fruit Mature Size 10-20 ft. tall, 5-10 ft. wide Sun Exposure Full sun Soil Type Loamy, sandy, well-drained Soil pH Slightly acidic (6.0 to 7.0) Bloom Time Late spring to early summer Flower Color White Hardiness Zones 10-12 (USDA) Native Area North America, Central America, South America Toxicity Non-toxic Claudia Totir / Getty Images You can procure a bounty of seeds just by cutting open a grocery store-bought dragon fruit and scooping out the fleshy center. Pick the black seeds out and rinse them (it's fine to leave a bit of the pulp attached). In a small pot filled with seed starter, mix your seeds thoroughly into the top quarter-inch layer of soil. Use a spray bottle to moisten, then cover the pot with cling wrap and place in a sunny window. Growing From a Starter Many see more success with growing dragon fruit from a cutting than from seed. To propagate a pitaya plant, make a slanted cut of a new piece of growth, about six to eight inches, and leave the cutting to air-dry in a dry, shady area for a full w...

However, you can easily incorporate more dragon fruit into your diet with these dragon fruit recipes, even if you’re not a fan of the fruit eaten by itself. Dragon fruit is high in fiber and magnesium, is one of the few fruits that contain iron, and provides you with numerous other nutrients. It can also help strengthen your immune system and improve your gut health. Some researchers even suggest that it can help fight chronic diseases! With all that in mind, why wouldn’t you want to check out these 20 delicious dragon fruit recipes?! 1. If you enjoy eating (or drinking) things that are fun and colorful, you’ll love this dragon fruit smoothie. Luckily, it doesn’t just look nice, but it also tastes great. Not only does it contain dragon fruit, but it also has bananas, pineapple chunks, mango, and lime juice – everything you’ll need for the perfect tropical smoothie. Best of all, you can make it in only 5 minutes. 4. If berries are your fruit of choice, you’ll love the berry dragon fruit smoothie. It’s packed with raspberries, blackberries, and strawberry Greek yogurt! That’s in addition to the dragon fruit, chia seeds, lime juice, and almond milk in most of these smoothies. There’s also a teaspoon of grated ginger, which adds a bit of spice to each sip. 6. If you love the dragon fruit smoothie but want something with a little more crunch and texture, try this recipe for the smoothie bowl instead. You can use one of the recipes for the smoothies above or this recipe, which u...