Dragon Fruit Varieties

1. Red-fleshed Dragon Fruit

Also known as Queen Dragon Fruit. This variety was hybridized by the Southern Fruit Research Institute from a Colombian red-fleshed dragon fruit and a white-fleshed dragon fruit from Binh Thuan province. The fruit is not large but heavy, with bright red flesh, crisp texture, and a particularly delicious flavor. It has a hard, bright red skin, green areoles; the inside is deep red like lipstick, with tiny black seeds like sesame seeds. The fruit is about 15-20 cm long and weighs about 350 grams.

2. White-fleshed Dragon Fruit

Common in the provinces of south-central and southern Vietnam, but the most famous brand is from Binh Thuan. It grows well in areas with high and full sunlight. The fruit is oval and has many areoles. When young, the skin is green, and when ripe, it turns red. The average fruit weight is over 500 grams. Fruits weighing 300 grams are often suitable for export.

3. Pink-fleshed Dragon Fruit

A classic hybrid between the Long Dinh 1 red-fleshed dragon fruit (mother) and the Cho Gao white-fleshed dragon fruit (father). It grows vigorously, has fairly large and strong branches, bright red skin, and fairly hard green areoles. The flesh is pink, slightly sweet and sour, with an average sugar content of 16.7%, and the flesh is quite firm. Young shoots are pink. It flowers strongly and almost year-round, and the flowers have the ability to self-pollinate to produce fruit. The average weight is 350-400 grams.

4. Thai Yellow Dragon Fruit

Originating from Israel and thriving in neighboring Thailand. It has a bright yellow color and green areoles. The skin is hard, and the inside flesh is very beautiful, transparent white. The flavor is slightly reminiscent of longan, with a very special sweet and light taste. Because of this difference, yellow dragon fruit is a sought-after commodity, always classified as a luxury fruit with a high price, serving only the upper class.

5. Mutant Dragon Fruit

Young fruits are light yellow and yellowish-green, but when ripe, they turn completely bright yellow. This type has white flesh, and when ripe, it is sweeter than the regular type. A special feature is that the fruit can remain on the tree for months when ripe without being damaged, unlike the regular type. The average weight is 1.5 kg, and after a period of ripening, the yellow color on the fruit's skin gradually turns red, which is very eye-catching.

6. Yellow-skinned, green-areoled dragon fruit

This is a rare variety that has recently appeared in Vietnam. It grows well in tropical climates. The fruit is large, similar to the red-fleshed dragon fruit, and under good growing conditions, the fruit can reach a weight of 800 grams. In terms of fruit shape: yellow skin, many seeds, green areoles, and no spines. The flesh is white, slightly transparent, not milky like white-fleshed dragon fruit. When eaten, it has a sweet, fragrant taste and is nutritious, without the sour taste near the skin like white-fleshed dragon fruit.

7. Green-skinned, red-fleshed dragon fruit

The green-skinned, red-fleshed dragon fruit is a new variety originating from India and has been introduced to Vietnam. Green-skinned, red-fleshed dragon fruit has good health benefits. When ripe, the fruit has an attractive green skin and is therefore sought after by many people. The fragrant and crispy taste of the green-skinned dragon fruit is favored by many customers.

Comparison table of common dragon fruit varieties