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Selenicereus undatus (Haw.) D.R.Hunt

Dragon fruit

Native records: 8 botanical areas

El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 5 more areas

See all areas

Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

See sources

Photograph of Selenicereus undatus

A climbing, epiphytic or lithophytic cactus in the family Cactaceae, native from Mexico to Honduras. Best known for its large night-blooming white flowers and edible red-purple fruits (dragon fruit / pitaya). Grown as a fruit crop across the tropics and subtropics worldwide.

Description

A scrambling, climbing cactus that roots in the ground or grows as an epiphyte or lithophyte, reaching several metres in length by producing aerial roots from thick, 3-winged, green stems. Areoles typically bear short wool and 1–3 small spines, though mature sterile stems are often nearly spineless. Flowers are nocturnal, very large (25–30 cm long), white inside with greenish to reddish outer perianth segments, and pollinated by bats and large sphingid moths. The fruit is an ellipsoid berry with red-purple (rarely yellow) skin bearing broad green bract-scales; the pulp is white or red-purple, sweet, filled with numerous small black seeds, and eaten raw or used in juices, ice cream and desserts. POWO classifies the species as a 'succulent epiphyte' of the seasonally dry tropical biome. Long-cultivated as a fruit crop, so the exact native-range boundary is debated (see review.unresolved).

Habitat

POWO gives the native range as 'Mexico to Honduras', listing the WGSRPD level-3 regions Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast and Mexico Southwest, plus Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. It grows as an epiphyte or climber on trees and rocks in seasonally dry tropical forest. Its introduced range spans tropical and subtropical regions worldwide after centuries of cultivation and escape.

Distribution areas

  • Anguilla

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Bahamas

    • BahamasIntroduced

  • Bangladesh

    • BangladeshIntroduced

  • Barbados

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Bermuda

    • BermudaIntroduced

  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Brazil

    • Brazil NortheastIntroduced
    • Brazil SouthIntroduced
    • Brazil SoutheastIntroduced

  • Cabo Verde

    • Cape VerdeIntroduced

  • Cambodia

    • CambodiaIntroduced

  • China

    • China SoutheastIntroduced
    • HainanIntroduced

  • Colombia

    • ColombiaIntroduced

  • Comoros

    • ComorosIntroduced

  • Cuba

    • CubaIntroduced

  • Dominica

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Dominican Republic

    • Dominican RepublicIntroduced

  • El Salvador

    • El SalvadorNative

  • Grenada

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Guadeloupe

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Guatemala

    • GuatemalaNative

  • Honduras

    • HondurasNative

  • Hong Kong

    • China SoutheastIntroduced

  • Italy

    • SardegnaIntroduced
    • SiciliaIntroduced

  • Macao

    • China SoutheastIntroduced

  • Malaysia

    • MalayaIntroduced

  • Malta

    • SiciliaIntroduced

  • Martinique

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Mauritius

    • MauritiusIntroduced

  • Mayotte

    • ComorosIntroduced

  • Mexico

    • Mexico CentralNative
    • Mexico GulfNative
    • Mexico NortheastNative
    • Mexico SoutheastNative
    • Mexico SouthwestNative

  • Montserrat

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • New Caledonia

    • New CaledoniaIntroduced

  • Niue

    • NiueIntroduced

  • Portugal

    • MadeiraIntroduced

  • Puerto Rico

    • Puerto RicoIntroduced

  • Réunion

    • RéunionIntroduced

  • Saint Barthélemy

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

    • St.HelenaIntroduced

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Lucia

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Saint Martin (French part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Singapore

    • MalayaIntroduced

  • Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • South Africa

    • Cape ProvincesIntroduced
    • KwaZulu-NatalIntroduced
    • Northern ProvincesIntroduced

  • Spain

    • BalearesIntroduced
    • Canary Is.Introduced

  • Taiwan, Province of China

    • China SoutheastIntroduced
    • TaiwanIntroduced

  • Tunisia

    • TunisiaIntroduced

  • United States Minor Outlying Islands

    • HawaiiIntroduced

  • United States of America

    • FloridaIntroduced
    • HawaiiIntroduced

  • Vanuatu

    • VanuatuIntroduced

  • Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Viet Nam

    • VietnamIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (British)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • Cwb Temperate, dry winter, warm summer
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot
  • Af Tropical, rainforest
  • BSk Arid, steppe, cold
  • BWh Arid, desert, hot
  • Cwa Temperate, dry winter, hot summer

The same climate occurs in 194 areas worldwide, 160 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Recorded medicinal uses

The cited source records medicinal use of this plant. It is not an assessment of efficacy or safety.

  • Selenicereus undatus is recorded as used medicinally.

    Source location: p.227, left column, line 39

    World Checklist of Useful Plant Species · Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) · CC BY 4.0 · source version: wcups-2020-62602715

    Open source

Other names

Dragon fruit、Pitaya、Pitahaya、Night-blooming cereus、 strawberry pear

Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Selenicereus

Other species in Selenicereus

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Anguilla · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Antigua and Barbuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bangladesh · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bahamas · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Barthélemy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bermuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Brazil · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Barbados · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    China · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Colombia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Comoros · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cabo Verde · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cuba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominican Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Spain · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guadeloupe · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Grenada · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guatemala · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Hong Kong · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Honduras · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Italy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cambodia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Kitts and Nevis · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Lucia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Macao · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Martin (French part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mexico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Malta · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Montserrat · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Martinique · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mauritius · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Malaysia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mayotte · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    New Caledonia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Niue · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Puerto Rico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Portugal · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Réunion · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Singapore · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    El Salvador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sint Maarten (Dutch part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Tunisia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Taiwan, Province of China · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States Minor Outlying Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States of America · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (British) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (U.S.) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Viet Nam · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Vanuatu · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    South Africa · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

Image information

  • Photograph of Selenicereus undatus

    Tiago Lubiana · CC0 · File page