Overview
Hylocereus polyrhizus ×, cv. Scott's Purple
Other names: Scott's Red (false)
Pollination: self-sterile
You might think something is a little off with this variety given the colour in its name, but you’d be wrong. Whoever named it (maybe it was Scott?) somehow mixed up red and purple, or perhaps the wrong plant was released right from the start. To complicate matters further, there is now a purple-fleshed variety floating around which people are calling Scott’s Purple, and it’s very difficult to convince them otherwise! In any case, the true Scott’s Purple (insofar as I am concerned) is the red-fleshed dragon fruit variety developed at Tamborine Dragon Fruit Farm right here in Australia, and that is the variety I will be describing on this page. It is quite similar to Colombian Supreme, with thick, chunky branches and a look-alike fruit with a smoother texture. Unfortunately, it is a self-sterile variety, though this is another point of contention, perhaps stemming from the purple-fleshed contender.
Buds
The buds are almost completely analogous to that of Colombian Supreme, though perhaps a little rounder and not as big before opening. Just your standard, red-fleshed variety with colourful tips and lime-green sepals. Perhaps another distinction is that, at least on the bud pictured, the flower takes up a good three-quarters of the length of the bud, which is more than can be said of most varieties.
Flowers
The flowers are also similar to Colombian Supreme, though the stigma protrudes a little more and they are not quite as large. I think this flower is just stunning, with nicely rounded petals of an almost pure white. They can probably get a little bigger too, as this is the lone flower on a plant that has barely started branching out over its support. Despite its self-sterility, the anthers are filled with pollen, making it a great pollen source for the rest of your collection.
Fruit
I’m not sure my one fruit thus far is the best representation of what this variety looks like, as I have seen much larger, rounder fruits floating around the internet. But I would say the flavour was on point. Scott’s Purple is known for being an exceptionally sweet variety, with a lovely berry flavour and the texture was silky smooth as well. I’m excited to see what this plant can produce in the coming seasons, though it's in a bit of an unusual trellis with G2 and Chameleon as companions.
