Purple Haze Dragon Fruit Plant

Purple Haze Dragon Fruit

Purple Haze is a large sweet purple fleshed fruit with few seeds. The fruit weigh up to two pounds, and they have a pleasant grape, kiwi-like flavor. This variety is self-pollinating, and like all of the other magenta fleshed fruit it will set fruit on its own.

Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit grows on the Hylocereus cactus, also known as the Honolulu Queen, whose flowers only open at night. The plant is native to southern Mexico and Central America. Today, it is grown all over the world. It goes by many names, including pitaya, pitahaya and strawberry pear. The two most common types have bright, red skin with green scales that resemble a dragon — hence the name.

The variety that's most widely available has white pulp with black seeds. The less common variety has red pulp with black seeds.Another variety has yellow skin and white pulp with black seeds. It is referred to as yellow dragon fruit. Dragon fruit may look exotic, but its flavors are similar to other fruits. Its taste has been described as a slightly sweet cross between a kiwi and a pear.

Dragon Fruit Nutrition

Dragon fruit contains small amounts of several nutrients and is a good source of vitamin C and iron.
Here are the nutrition facts for a serving of 3.5 ounces, or 100 grams:

• Calories: 52.
• Protein: 1.1 gram.
• Fat: 0.4 grams.
• Carbs: 11 grams.
• Fiber: 3 grams.
• Vitamin C: 34% of the RDI.
• Iron: 10.6% of the RDI.
• Thiamine: 2.7% of the RDI.
• Riboflavin: 2.9% of the RDI.

Given the high amount of fiber and vitamin C, as well as the extremely low calorie content, it can be considered to be a highly nutrient-dense fruit.

Growing Dragon Fruit

Roots can grow from any surface of the plant. Just stick the cutting in dirt and wait for it to grow. Insert a three foot wooden plant stake into the soil approximately two to three inches away from the plant. As the plant grows, use gardening tape to secure the plant to the stake for support. Place the plant in a location where it receives direct sunlight for most of the day. The limbs of Dragon Fruit can grow up to 20 feet long.