Edgar's Baby

Edgar's Baby is a Hylocereus stenopterus by H. guatemalensis hybrid bred by the California hybridizer Edgar Valdivia, and it addresses the single biggest obstacle to growing dragon fruit in a small garden: size. Where a typical pitahaya sends stems to 20 ft and demands a heavy trellis, this cultivar stays compact at 4–6 ft and begins fruiting within one to two years of planting. The stenopterus parent contributes the small stature and the small, intensely coloured fruit; the guatemalensis side brings the eating quality. Sow Exotic in Florida stocks it as one of only a handful of dragon fruit cultivars it carries, and markets it specifically for container and patio growing. For anyone in zones 9–11 with a courtyard rather than an orchard, it is the most practical entry point into the crop.