Dragon Fruit flower buds are the unopened flowers that grow at intervals along the vining cactus stems. The flower buds are encapsulated in elongated, spiky green, finger-like sepals (or calyx) that fold over and protect the developing petals. The pod-shaped flower buds look like elongated green pinecones with red margins on the sepals. Dragon Fruit flower buds can grow up to ten inches in length before the flower emerges and must be harvested prior to the bloom. Once the Dragon Fruit flower has bloomed, the flower dies to allow for the fruit to develop. The Dragon Fruit plant will develop at least seven “flushes” of buds on its stems over the course of one season. The buds are most often cooked before consuming and have a cactus-like taste, similar to a nopal or prickly pear cactus paddle. The flavor is also likened to that of asparagus.

Seasons/Availability

Dragon Fruit flower buds are available during the late spring and through the beginning of fall.

Nutritional Value

Fruits of Hylocereus genus contain high amounts of vitamin C, potassium, minerals and fiber, though it is not clear that these nutritional benefits are present in the same amounts in the flower bud. Because the Dragon Fruit flower buds are not commonly consumed outside of Latin America, little information is available on their nutritional content.
Nutritional Value
Fruits of Hylocereus genus contain high amounts of vitamin C, potassium, minerals and fiber, though it is not clear that these nutritional benefits are present in the same amounts in the flower bud. Because the Dragon Fruit flower buds are not commonly consumed outside of Latin America, little information is available on their nutritional content.