Description

Asunta 2

Asunta 2 Dragon Fruit is a hybrid variety that comes from Hylocereus stenopterus hybrid and Hylocereus guatemalensis. The hybrid mixture also contains the species undatus in its gene. Asunta 2 is the 2nd clone from the Asunta series. The Condor variety and Asunta 1 were the two varieties used to create Asunta 2. This cross is a slightly larger fruit and a different color fruit compared to Asunta 1. Spicy Exotics collected this variety from a tropical grower in California.

Growth

The growth of Asunta 2 is tender and three-sided, typical of other Hylocereus stenopterus clones. It’s an aggressive grower with minimal spines. Stem segments are about 2 to 3 feet each and are a light green color.

Flowers

The flower is a small to medium-sized bloom with inner petals purple shading in color to light pink edges and white tips. The flower bud is equally impressive as the flower. In Louisiana, the flower opens at dusk and closes at sunrise. When compared to other Hylocereus varieties, this is much earlier. Once opened, the stigma protrudes a few inches from the anther. Asunta 2 is self-sterile, and this makes perfect sense due to the previous clones all being self-sterile. The buds and blooms, both open and closed, resemble the Kathie Van Arum variety, another Hylocereus stenopterus clone.

Fruit

Fruits are typical egg-shaped that are small, often weighing .50 to .75 pounds. The fruit’s flesh is pale pink, with the skin being dark red, almost maroon colored with green fins. Brix ratings using a refractometer had an average score of 22. The flavor of the pale flesh was not pale in taste. Surprisingly the fruit packed floral flavors with a slight hint of coconut, defiantly a keeper. Like the flower, we found the fruit resembles Kathie Van Arum and tastes like one too.

In summary, we have found that Asunta 2 is the best tasting of all the Asunta fruits that Spicy Exotics has collected.