Perennial epiphytic or climbing cactus native to Central America. Night-blooming and exotically scented, the flowers of Dragon Fruit can reach more than a foot long and wide. It is also known as the Night-Blooming Cereus. The fruits are red and free of spines, with a succulent white flesh dotted with the jet black seeds, the flesh being very sweet, edible and delicious, reaching up to 5 inches long. Cacti may be planted in the ground and trained up a pole and then allowed to droop into a weeping willow shape. The cacti have a jointed growing habit, best trained to a trellis, wall or tree once the plants attain sufficient size. The fruit is popular as a fresh fruit, eaten out of hand. It is also used to flavor drinks and pastries. Unopened flowerbuds are cooked and eaten as vegetables.