Spicy Exotics Dragon Fruit’s rating:
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Description
Kathie Van Arum
Kathie Van Arum Dragon Fruit is a hybrid variety from Hylocereus stenopterus and Hylocereus undatus. It is one of three hybrid clones created by German hybridizer Eckhard Meier, and the other two siblings are Bruni and Connie Mayer. Spicy Exotics collected this variety from a tropical nursery in California.
Growth
The growth is very tender and three-sided, which is typical of Hylocereus. The tenderness comes from the mother plant, Hylocereus stenopterus. Two or three tiny spines occur along the rib, which differs from its sister clones, Bruni and Connie Mayer.
Flowers
The flower Kathie Van Arum is a medium-sized bloom with inner petals being pink shading to purple with white edges and tips. Before flowering, the flower bud is equally impressive. In Louisiana, the flower opens at dusk and closes at sunrise, and when compared to other varieties, this is much earlier. One downside to Kathie Van Arum is it is self-sterile but will set fruit with pollen from different varieties that do not contain the stenopterus gene.
Fruit
Fruits are small, egg-shaped, plentiful, often weighing .25 to three-quarters of a pound. The fruit’s flesh is pink, with the skin bringing pale dark red, almost maroon colored, with green fins. In Louisiana, this took 45 days compared to 30 days for other Hylocereus species. The average brix rating for this fruit is 20 plus brix. The first test was in 2017, and it weighed half a pound. Before tasting, I tested with a refractometer, and I could not believe my eyes. It had a brix reading of 22.5. I then tasted the fruit, and it had the most fantastic coconut taste. This Dragon Fruit is excellent eaten fresh, in jams, as a garnish, or as juice in drinks. Check out our Pinterest page for other great uses of this variety.
Additional information
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2 reviews for Kathie Van Arum – H. stenopterus X H. undatus
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Overall Rating
Kathie Van Arum – H. stenopterus X H. undatus
$25.00 – $35.00
Out of stock
Diana M Taylor –
Have you ever sat back and said; “It just doesn’t get any better than this”? Well, that’s what I said the last time I ordered from Spicy Exotics. Boy, was I wrong! What you do receive along with your order every time is a much BIGGER SURPRISE than the last time and Tyes’ way of showing lots of appreciation for your business. The plants are the very best and so is Tyes’ business principles and I thank you .
matthewadamache (verified owner) –
Although its a slow grower, Kathie Van Arum is the thickest and most supple growers out of its sisters, Bruni and Connie Mayer. It also stands out from it’s sisters because of the pink flesh and high brix score of the fruit, and this should also be on your watch if you also have Connie Mayer or Bruni.