<\/p>\n
This pitaya\u2019s name is \u2018Lisa,\u2019 but we might as well call her Mona Lisa<\/em>, because this variety\u2019s fruits are works of art.<\/p>\n A cultivated variety of S. monacanthus<\/em>, <\/em>this Nicaraguan type bears one of the most attractive pitaya fruits out there \u2013 these have thick red skin and curling green bracts that have striking, dark red margins.<\/p>\n And with \u2018Lisa,\u2019 the beauty isn\u2019t only skin deep.<\/p>\n The flesh of this cultivar is a rich, dark red hue and the taste both sweet and acidic, making it extremely flavorful. \u2018Lisa\u2019 has been rated with a Brix score of 18.<\/p>\n In fact, in a blind taste test conducted at the University of California at San Diego Cooperative Extension<\/a><\/strong>, \u2018Lisa\u2019 received one of the top rankings among pitaya cultivars for flavor.<\/p>\n Not only does \u2018Lisa\u2019 have great flavor, its flesh has a pleasantly smooth consistency, packed in oval-shaped fruits that weigh in at one pound each.<\/p>\n The flowers of \u2018Lisa\u2019 are self-sterile, requiring cross-pollination, and plant stems have a grayish coating that contributes to this plant\u2019s increased heat and cold tolerance.<\/p>\n \u2018Lisa\u2019 is ready to harvest between June and January.<\/p>\n Like the Led Zeppelin album this hybrid is named after, \u2018Physical Graffiti\u2019 is prolific and impressive.<\/p>\n A cross of <\/em>S. guatemalensis<\/em> and <\/em>S. undatus<\/em>, this pitaya cultivar has <\/em>bright, pinkish-red skin that is fairly thin with green bracts.<\/p>\n Its flesh is light purple to magenta and it has excellent flavor, with a Brix score just under 18.<\/p>\n Fruits are oblong and medium to large, weighing up to a pound and a half each. They\u2019re produced from flowers that are self-sterile and require a red-fleshed variety as a pollinator, so choose one of these to plant nearby.<\/p>\n Plants thrive in full sun and are vigorous and productive, with improved tolerance to both heat and cold.<\/p>\n But just like a guitar solo that goes on a little too long<\/em>, \u2018Physical Graffiti\u2019 is a bit aggressive, and this variety will require a bit more pruning than others.<\/p>\n (Yes, sometimes it is<\/em> possible to have too much of a good thing \u2013 but that\u2019s okay, with this cultivar you can plan to give cuttings to your friends!)<\/p>\n \u2018Physical Graffiti,\u2019 the pitaya, is harvested from July to December.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the perfect pastime for listening to your favorite Led Zeppelin albums \u2013 pruning your own dragon fruit plant while you rock out.<\/p>\n Have you noticed a trend in where pitaya hybridizers must find their inspiration for naming their creations?<\/p>\n Not yet?<\/p>\n Well, let me introduce you to our next variety.<\/p>\n \u2018Purple Haze\u2019 is not just one of the most well-known Jimi Hendrix tunes, it\u2019s also a fruit you can eat.<\/p>\n A hybrid of S guatemalensis<\/em> <\/em>and S. undatus<\/em>, this pitaya hybrid has pink skin with green bracts, and contains purple flesh.<\/p>\n Its purple pulp is very sweet with hints of grape and kiwi and a Brix score of 19, enclosed in oval-shaped fruits.<\/p>\n These dragon fruits are large, weighing in at one to two pounds each, and born from self-sterile flowers that require cross-pollination.<\/p>\n Like our previous hard-rock-inspired selection, \u2018Purple Haze\u2019 grows aggressively, so make sure you have a good pair of pruners<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Departing from iconic rock and roll references, our next pitaya variety is known for its high fruit production and ability to serve as a cross-pollinator.<\/p>\n \u2018Sugar Dragon\u2019 is a cross of S. guatemalensis<\/em> with an unknown species.<\/p>\n This cultivar has red skin with small, greenish-brown bracts enclosing semi-firm, reddish-purple flesh.<\/p>\n Its pulp has excellent flavor with rosewater or berry undertones, and it is sweet, with a Brix score of 18 or higher.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n8. Physical Graffiti<\/h2>\n
9. Purple Haze<\/h2>\n
10. Sugar Dragon<\/h2>\n