Hylocereus - dragon fruit

[angel]

Yes, I can imagine that Harvey...kind of like rose petals in a fresh garden salad bowl

[PaphMadMan]

I was under the impression there are edible orchid flowers. Is that an 'urban garden' legend?

Den phal types are used as edible garnish pretty commonly and sometimes in salads. No taste really, and probably not much nutrition or calories, but pretty. Probably many others could be eaten, but unless there is a taste or nutrition reason a big fleshy Catt flower would probably be a bit unpleasant in texture, and I don't even want to think about steamed Bulbo flowers.

[angel]

Den phal types are used as edible garnish pretty commonly and sometimes in salads. No taste really, and probably not much nutrition or calories, but pretty. Probably many others could be eaten, but unless there is a taste or nutrition reason a big fleshy Catt flower would probably be a bit unpleasant in texture, and I don't even want to think about steamed Bulbo flowers.

Wow! Now I know. thanks for the info, Kirk.

[angel]

Giant twins

---------- Post Merged at 04:43 PM ----------

Giant twin buds

[angel]

Four hours after taking the previous picture, the buds opened. Dark spots in the close-ups are bees.

[silverstoli]

Stunning!

[coeruleo]

actually, i was just looking at an avocado recipe where you bake it with an egg in it... sounds yummy for breakfast. i have some dragon fruit cacti going on my balcony. just had a flower last week, after our sudden heat wave it popped out a flower. usually have to wait until august or september for flowers here. these are not very frost tolerant i am told, but can take some cold. i have planted a few types about 3 years ago. only one is not growing strongly. most of the others have put out flowers at least. some need to be cross-pollinated. some don't, but can grow bigger fruit if you cross them. i have one that put out a lot of flowers last year, but not a single fruit, and another that only gives me a few flowers, but always fruits. each named variety is a bit different. i can tell you the white flesh kind do not have nearly as much flavor as the red fleshed kind. but the reds don't usually grow very big fruit. they are a bit like an inside out strawberry, little crunchy seeds in a sweet pulpy flesh. they can be scooped out with a spoon. or cut into cubes and added to fruit salads. very expensive to buy in a market. the white ones are like 9 or 10$ each. i love this fruit, and it is supposed to be really good for you. and they look like dragon eggs!

[angel]

Stunning!

thanks, Mary. I love this cactus because it is a reliable repeat bloomer. I have to wait for years in between blooming for my other cacti.

---------- Post Merged at 04:51 PM ----------

actually, i was just looking at an avocado recipe where you bake it with an egg in it... sounds yummy for breakfast. i have some dragon fruit cacti going on my balcony. just had a flower last week, after our sudden heat wave it popped out a flower. usually have to wait until august or september for flowers here. these are not very frost tolerant i am told, but can take some cold. i have planted a few types about 3 years ago. only one is not growing strongly. most of the others have put out flowers at least. some need to be cross-pollinated. some don't, but can grow bigger fruit if you cross them. i have one that put out a lot of flowers last year, but not a single fruit, and another that only gives me a few flowers, but always fruits. each named variety is a bit different. i can tell you the white flesh kind do not have nearly as much flavor as the red fleshed kind. but the reds don't usually grow very big fruit. they are a bit like an inside out strawberry, little crunchy seeds in a sweet pulpy flesh. they can be scooped out with a spoon. or cut into cubes and added to fruit salads. very expensive to buy in a market. the white ones are like 9 or 10$ each. i love this fruit, and it is supposed to be really good for you. and they look like dragon eggs!

Very informative, Coeruleo, especially the pollination part. My plant hasn't produced fruit though it is already on its second year of flowering. I like the taste of the yellow/white variety more than the red one though the red is more widely available in supermarkets here. You are right, the fruit, just like the flower, looks remarkable.

[coeruleo]

and they smell wonderful too. i always know when one has bloomed when i get home before seeing it. one flower will fill my apartment with perfume. i liken it to a perfume scented soap.

[angel]

and they smell wonderful too. i always know when one has bloomed when i get home before seeing it. one flower will fill my apartment with perfume. i liken it to a perfume scented soap.

I don't know but mine has a very faint smell which isn't exactly fragrant, just a vegetative kind of smell.