Dark Star

Dark Star is a Hylocereus guatemalensis by H. undatus hybrid that Spicy Exotics traces to Thomson's seedling 9S, bred from the purple-fleshed Rixford crossed with the white-fleshed Neitzel and documented in Thomson's book Pitahaya. It is one of the deepest-coloured cultivars in general circulation, and among the highest-scoring for sugar, with a recorded average of 19 Brix. Growers distinguish it from its close siblings Cosmic Charlie, Physical Graffiti and Purple Haze by its split-lobe stigma, a small floral detail that has become the standard identification check in the hobby trade. It is a notably quick grower with strong upright habit, which makes it easy to establish on a post. Self-sterility is the main limitation — it needs pollen from a different cultivar to set fruit.