Hylocereus undatus (Dragon Fruit Cactus) Plants GrowTropicals
Dragon Fruit Cactus

Hylocereus undatus (Dragon Fruit Cactus)

£9.49 £9.99 SAVE 5%
Hard to killSun-loverPet-safe
Pot size
10.5cm £9.49

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Complete the set up
Jungle Mix - Premium Houseplant Potting Mix
The perfect soil Jungle Mix - Premium Houseplant Potting Mix · 2.5L · £4.99
Description

Hylocereus undatus, the Dragon Fruit Cactus, is the climbing jungle cactus behind the famous pink dragon fruit, or pitaya. Its bold, three sided green stems scramble and trail as they grow, and given time, warmth and light a mature plant produces huge, fragrant flowers that open for a single night.

Origins

Unlike the spiny desert cacti, Hylocereus is an epiphytic jungle cactus from the tropical Americas, where it climbs tree trunks with clinging aerial roots. That makes it an easy, fast growing choice that sits comfortably among our cacti and succulents and, more specifically, our jungle cacti.

Light and water

Give it the brightest spot you have, with a few hours of direct sun to build strong stems and, eventually, flowers. Water thoroughly, then let the compost dry out almost fully before watering again. It is a forgiving, beginner friendly plant that would rather be too dry than too wet.

Flowers, fruit and pets

With age, warmth and good light a happy plant can flower and even set dragon fruit indoors, though it needs room to climb to reach that stage. It is also non toxic, so it earns a place among our pet safe houseplants, though the stems can carry small spines, so a careful spot is still wise.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

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How to care for Dragon Fruit Cactus

I want real sun on my leaves and hold the water until my soil is properly dry.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Dragon Fruit Cactus

Hylocereus undatus (Dragon Fruit Cactus) is an easy-care houseplant. It needs bright direct light, watering only once the compost has dried right through, average household humidity and a minimum temperature of 10°C. It is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Good for

Bedroom Office

Care level

EasyChallenge

Easy care

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, direct sun

Bright light, including some direct sun. A few hours of gentle direct sun encourages strong, healthy stems and, in time, flowering. In deep shade the stems grow thin and weak. Read moreShow less

Bright light, including some direct sun. A few hours of gentle direct sun encourages strong, healthy stems and, in time, flowering. In deep shade the stems grow thin and weak.

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let it dry out fully between waterings

Water like a jungle cactus rather than a desert one, but still let it dry. Soak thoroughly, then let the compost dry out almost completely before watering again. Water sparingly in winter. It is far happier slightly dry than sitting wet. Read moreShow less

Water like a jungle cactus rather than a desert one, but still let it dry. Soak thoroughly, then let the compost dry out almost completely before watering again. Water sparingly in winter. It is far happier slightly dry than sitting wet.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Happy at normal household humidity

Average room humidity is fine. As a tropical cactus it tolerates normal indoor air without fuss. Read moreShow less

Average room humidity is fine. As a tropical cactus it tolerates normal indoor air without fuss.

Temperature

Keep above 10°C · Happy at normal room temperature

Warm rooms suit it best. Keep it above 10C in a bright, frost free spot. Consistent warmth through summer helps it build toward flowering. Read moreShow less

Warm rooms suit it best. Keep it above 10C in a bright, frost free spot. Consistent warmth through summer helps it build toward flowering.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Climbing →

Plant type

Cactus →

Toxicity

Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Plants still are not food, so a determined chewer may get an upset stomach.

Also known as

Hylocereus undatus (Dragon Fruit Cactus)

Genus

Hylocereus
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Dragon Fruit Cactus easy to grow?

Yes, it is one of the more forgiving cacti and a great beginner plant. Hylocereus undatus grows quickly, asks only for bright light and the occasional deep watering, and shrugs off a missed watering far better than it copes with soggy compost. Give it warmth, light and something to climb and it more or less looks after itself.

How often should I water a dragon fruit cactus?

Water thoroughly, then wait until the compost has dried out almost completely before watering again. In practice that is often every couple of weeks in summer and much less in winter. As a jungle cactus it likes a proper drink, but the fastest way to lose it is to keep the roots constantly wet, so always let it dry out between waterings.

Will it grow dragon fruit indoors?

It can, with patience. A mature, well fed plant in bright light and warmth will eventually produce its huge, night opening flowers, which can set the familiar pink dragon fruit. It needs room to climb and several years of growth to reach flowering size, and some plants benefit from hand pollination, so treat any fruit as a lovely bonus rather than a certainty.

Is the dragon fruit cactus safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Hylocereus undatus, listed by the ASPCA as Pitaya, is non toxic to cats and dogs. The main thing to watch is physical rather than chemical: the stems can carry small spines, so place it where curious pets are not tempted to brush against it. Browse our pet safe houseplants for more animal friendly options.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Hylocereus undatus (Dragon Fruit Cactus)
£9.49 £9.99