(SE) Sin Espinas – Hylocereus sp.
Sin Espinas – Hylocereus sp.
Native to: Central America
- Size: 4-20 feet
- Sun: Full to Part Sun
- Hardiness: Around 28-30 degrees
- Water: medium (2-3 times weekly during dry months when established)
- Flowers: white, short bloom duration (at night)
- Attracts: Nectar eating creatures
- Pests: None observed
- Other Information:
Sin Espinas Dragon Fruit variety comes from the genus Hylocereus and an unknown species native to Nicaragua. It is one of five known varieties to be grown commercially there but the only plant of the five that is considered thornless, yes THORNLESS! Flowers are large that resemble typical Hylocereus flowers. The fruits average size is a pound with a thick pink skin with green fins. All aspects of this variety would appear that the fruit would have purple flesh, but to our surprise, it’s a firm deep red flesh. The fruit is a good quality with an average Brix score of 17. Like most red flesh varieties, the fruit is also very high in antioxidants. Flower bud to night blooming flower is a typical 30 days then another 30 days to harvest in South Louisiana. The most interesting aspect of this variety is its spins or lack of. Yes, we said it again, it’s thornless. The stems are thin and very light with 1 to 2 very small spines near the areole considering this variety to be spinless.
Our experience with Sin Espinas has been very promising. The first fruit at Spicy Exotics gave a rating of a 16 Brix. It was harvested a little early and I’m sure if it was left on the vine a little longer, the brix would increase. The flesh was very firm and tart. It tasted just like cherries. We loved it! Spicy Exotics acquired two different species of Sin Espinas. One was from a cactus nursery and the other from a tropical grower, both from California.
(Credit to Spicy Exotics)