Hybridizing Dragon Fruit

Hybridizing Dragon Fruit

A cross pollination, in time lapse. Video by Jason Gentile.

New To Dragon Fruit?

Start here…

1 · Where will it live?
2 · What flesh color do you want?
3 · What are your winters like?
4 · Sweet or tart?

Start here

American Beauty

It is self-fertile — it sets fruit on its own, with no second plant and no midnight trips outside with a brush. Magenta flesh with pink skin. Early season bloomer.

More people give up on dragon fruit because nothing ever fruits than for any other reason, and the usual cause is a variety that needed a partner nobody mentioned. Start with one that does not.

See American Beauty Why pollination matters

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

Start here

American Beauty

It is self-fertile — it sets fruit on its own, with no second plant and no midnight trips outside with a brush. Magenta flesh with pink skin. Early season bloomer.

More people give up on dragon fruit because nothing ever fruits than for any other reason, and the usual cause is a variety that needed a partner nobody mentioned. This one is magenta-fleshed and forgiving.

See American Beauty Why pollination matters

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

Start here

American Beauty

It is self-fertile — it sets fruit on its own, with no second plant and no midnight trips outside with a brush. Magenta flesh with pink skin. Early season bloomer.

We have no purple-fleshed variety recorded as self-fertile yet, so this is our self-fertile pick instead of a color match. Compare all 22 to choose by eye.

See American Beauty Why pollination matters

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

Start here

American Beauty

It is self-fertile — it sets fruit on its own, with no second plant and no midnight trips outside with a brush. Magenta flesh with pink skin. Early season bloomer.

We have no white-fleshed variety recorded as self-fertile yet, so this is our self-fertile pick instead of a color match. Compare all 22 to choose by eye.

See American Beauty Why pollination matters

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Peachy Keen

The first ever PEACH flavored dragon fruit! Complex, wonderfully sweet, and mouth wateringly tangy! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one is sweet, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Peachy Keen Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. We have not recorded which of ours are balanced yet, so this is our pick on flavor. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one leans tart, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Every one of our Exclusive Hybrids

Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of them has a good balance of sweetness and tartness, some leaning either way. None of them is self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how.

Florida Man, Peachy Keen, Gator Tail and Plumb Crazy. Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Peachy Keen

The first ever PEACH flavored dragon fruit! Complex, wonderfully sweet, and mouth wateringly tangy! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one is sweet, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. And magenta-fleshed, as you asked. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Peachy Keen Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. We have not recorded which of ours are balanced yet, so this is our pick on flavor. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. And magenta-fleshed, as you asked. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one leans tart, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. And magenta-fleshed, as you asked. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Every one of our Exclusive Hybrids

Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of them has a good balance of sweetness and tartness, some leaning either way. None of them is self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how.

Florida Man, Peachy Keen, Gator Tail and Plumb Crazy. Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Peachy Keen

The first ever PEACH flavored dragon fruit! Complex, wonderfully sweet, and mouth wateringly tangy! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one is sweet, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are purple-fleshed — every one of them is magenta — so this is our pick on flavor. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Peachy Keen Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. We have not recorded which of ours are balanced yet, so this is our pick on flavor. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are purple-fleshed — every one of them is magenta — so this is our pick on flavor. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one leans tart, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are purple-fleshed — every one of them is magenta — so this is our pick on flavor. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Every one of our Exclusive Hybrids

Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of them has a good balance of sweetness and tartness, some leaning either way. None of them is self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how.

Florida Man, Peachy Keen, Gator Tail and Plumb Crazy. Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are purple-fleshed — every one of them is magenta. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Peachy Keen

The first ever PEACH flavored dragon fruit! Complex, wonderfully sweet, and mouth wateringly tangy! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one is sweet, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are white-fleshed — every one of them is magenta — so this is our pick on flavor. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Peachy Keen Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. We have not recorded which of ours are balanced yet, so this is our pick on flavor. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are white-fleshed — every one of them is magenta — so this is our pick on flavor. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Florida Man

A top tier fruit with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Averaging over a pound in size, with a flavor so good… it's CRAZY! Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of our exclusives has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; this one leans tart, as you asked. It is not self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how. It has not been released yet — we are growing stock first — and its page carries the release list.

Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are white-fleshed — every one of them is magenta — so this is our pick on flavor. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

See Florida Man Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

For the flavor

Every one of our Exclusive Hybrids

Bred here, sold nowhere else — the most flavorful we offer. Every one of them has a good balance of sweetness and tartness, some leaning either way. None of them is self-fertile, so plan on a second variety and a paintbrush — here is how.

Florida Man, Peachy Keen, Gator Tail and Plumb Crazy. Each of our Exclusive Hybrids is selected from a pool of no fewer than 30 hybrid seedlings grown to maturity. None of them are white-fleshed — every one of them is magenta. They carry a propagation restriction — grow them and eat the fruit, but do not go into business selling cuttings.

Compare the exclusives

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

Make your own

Start with seed, and the masterclass

Pick a cross, grow the seedlings out, and name whatever you find. The whole method is free.

Six stages from planning a cross to evaluating the fruit — the same method behind every variety on this site. Flesh color is not something you choose when you breed; it is something you discover, and Purpusii shows up strongly in the seedlings.

Start the masterclass Browse 6 seed crosses

Not sure where to put it? A container is the forgiving choice — you can move it and change your mind. In the ground it grows faster and fruits harder. Container guide.

Go bigger than feels sensible. These are climbing cacti with real root systems. Container guide.

Build the post and canopy before you plant, not after. Retrofitting support is miserable. Planting and support.

With frost you will want it potted and moved in, or protected. Growing in cold climates.

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