Edible succulents... Or rather, the "Wait, that's a succulent?" fruit cactus! Native to forests in Mexico, it hangs down from trees and bears bright red fruits. It’s cultivated in Okinawa, but apparently it can also set fruit in mainland Japan. The name "pitaya" is actually more of a fruit-market nickname, and Selenicereus megalanthus S. megalanthus also grows a similar-looking fruit called the "yellow pitaya." It’s also known as "Byakurengekaku" (White Lotus Pavilion) because its flowers are a gorgeous white, about 15–20 cm across—and often mistaken for the queen of the night cactus. The stems are thick, straight, and efficient at producing nutrients, so this all-rounder is prized as a rootstock as well—a smart, well-balanced overachiever! (But for home growing, its large and rugged size might be a little challenging…)

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  720JPY