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About this seed
Red dragon fruit (Selenicereus undatus, formerly Hylocereus undatus) is a climbing, night-flowering cactus. A pack of 50 or 100 seeds gives you many genetically different plants for the price of one nursery cutting. The trade-off is time: seed-grown vines take years to fruit, and the fruit is not a copy of the parent. Read the next two sections before you order.
Also known as: pitaya, pitahaya, red pitaya, dragon fruit cactus.
Seeds or a cutting? Decide before you buy
| From this seed pack | From a rooted cutting | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first fruit | Up to about 7 years | Many fruit 6–9 months after planting |
| Fruit same as parent | No: size, flesh shade and taste vary | Yes, it is a clone |
| Number of plants | Dozens from one pack | One per cutting |
| Genetic variety for cross-pollination | Every seedling is different | All cuttings of one cultivar are identical |
Choose seeds if you want a row of plants for a fence or several trellis posts, enjoy raising cacti from the start, want pollination partners, or cannot easily get named cuttings where you live. Choose a cutting if you want fruit of a known variety within one or two seasons.
What "red" means on this pack
"Red" describes the skin. S. undatus typically has red to pink skin with white flesh; pink flesh occurs less often. Deep red or magenta flesh is mainly associated with S. costaricensis (often sold as Hylocereus polyrhizus). Because seedlings are not clones, we do not promise flesh colour, fruit size or sweetness for plants grown from this pack.
Pollination: why a single vine may never set fruit
Flowers open at night and close by the next morning or midday. Several dragon fruit cultivars are self-incompatible, so growers are advised to plant two or three genetically different types. Seed-raised plants already differ from one another, which is one real advantage of this pack: grow at least three vines to maturity. Where night-flying pollinators are scarce, hand-pollinate at night or early next morning by brushing pollen from one plant's flower onto the stigma of a flower on another plant.
How to germinate dragon fruit seeds
A 2019 laboratory study on H. undatus seed gives useful targets. These are lab results on paper, not a germination rate for our lots:
| Constant temperature | Germinated by day 11 |
|---|---|
| 15 °C (59 °F) | 83% |
| 20 °C (68 °F) | 92% |
| 25 °C (77 °F) | 94% |
| 30 °C (86 °F) | 91% |
| 35 °C (95 °F) | 61% |
In the same study, germination at 25 °C fell from 75% in light to 46% in darkness. In practice: keep the seeds at 20–30 °C and do not bury them.
- Fill a shallow pot with fine, free-draining cactus or seed-starting mix and moisten it before sowing.
- Scatter the seeds thinly on the surface, a few millimetres apart, and press them in gently. Do not cover them with soil.
- Mist, then cover loosely with clear plastic or a lid. Air it daily and wipe off heavy condensation.
- Place in bright, indirect light at 20–30 °C. Use a heat mat in a cold room; avoid hot spots above 35 °C, such as a sunny windowsill under glass.
- Expect the first sprouts in about 1–3 weeks at home, with stragglers later. Lab seed at 25 °C reached half germination in about 3 days, so if nothing appears after three weeks, check the temperature first.
- Remove the cover over a week once most seedlings are up.
Why sowings fail
- Seeds buried, even lightly: they need light.
- Cold mix: a winter windowsill at night can drop well below 15 °C.
- Waterlogged mix or a sealed cover: seedlings rot at the base. Water from below and vent daily.
- Direct midday sun on new seedlings: they scorch. Increase light gradually.
- Heavy potting soil: it stays wet too long. Use a gritty cactus mix.
From seedling to climbing vine
Transplant into individual small pots once seedlings are about 2–3 cm tall and have formed their first segments, usually after 2–3 months. Let the mix dry slightly between waterings and move them toward fuller sun over several weeks. A young plant soon needs a stake. A mature vine needs a strong post: extension guidance says a trellis must carry several hundred pounds of stems, so a thin cane or bare wire will fail.
Will it grow where you live?
| Your climate | How to grow it |
|---|---|
| Frost-free winters (roughly USDA zone 10 and warmer) | In the ground on a sturdy post, in a spot that never stays waterlogged. |
| Occasional light frost | A large container you can move under cover. Long exposure below 31 °F (about −0.5 °C) damages stems, though light frost injury usually recovers. |
| Cold winters (UK, northern US, Himalayan hill towns) | A container plant in a greenhouse, conservatory or bright room. Expect a decorative cactus; fruit needs a large mature plant, full sun and pollination. |
| Very hot and dry summers | Give afternoon shade. Temperatures above 38 °C (100 °F) stress the plant, and stems sunburn in dry air or strong high-altitude sun. |
Pack details
| Product | Dragon Fruit Red seeds, SKU CAC117 |
| Botanical name (as listed) | Selenicereus undatus |
| Pack sizes | 50 seeds (US$3.90) or 100 seeds (US$5.90), list price |
| Germination rate for this lot | Not tested. We do not quote a percentage. |
| Ships from | India, dispatched within 1–2 weeks of ordering |
FAQ
What germination rate should I expect from this pack?
We have not tested this lot, so we do not quote a percentage. Sow part of the pack first and keep the rest in reserve; if nothing has sprouted after four weeks at 20–30 °C, check that the seeds are uncovered and the mix is moist but not wet before you resow.
Can I store the seeds I don't sow?
Yes. Dragon fruit seed is classed as orthodox, meaning it tolerates drying. Keep it in a sealed container somewhere cool, dark and dry, such as a refrigerator in an airtight jar.
Can I grow dragon fruit indoors?
As a container plant in a bright window, conservatory or greenhouse, yes. Fruit is harder: it needs a large mature vine, several hours of direct sun, and pollination from a second, genetically different plant.
How long will delivery take?
Orders are dispatched from India within 1–2 weeks. The delivery estimate for your country is shown at checkout.
Can these seeds be imported into my country?
Some countries restrict or require permits for imported seed. Check your national plant-health or customs rules before ordering.