Identity
History & Description
Origin
This is a French clonal selection of the famous Owari satsuma, identified and distributed by specialist nurseries (notably Pépinière Soules) for its performance in temperate climates.Tree description
The tree is particularly vigorous for a satsuma and very productive. It has an elegant weeping habit and remarkable hardiness, often cited as superior to the type (down to 7°F (−14°C)).Fruit quality
The fruit is large, flattened, with bright orange skin that peels very easily. Ripening is a little later than the early varieties, ensuring a late fall harvest.Flavor and ornamental interest
It is a high-quality eating mandarin. It offers a perfect sugar-acid balance and melting, seedless flesh. Its great cold resistance makes it a priority choice for gardens outside the Mediterranean zone.Updated:
What matters when choosing
Key points about Owari Francis Soules Satsuma Mandarin
Owari Francis Soules is a French satsuma selection valued for its seedless, easy-to-peel mandarins that ripen in late fall. It is among the best choices for a cool garden, while remaining a tree to protect during severe freezes.
Why choose it
- Seedless, very easy-to-peel fruit.
- Good eating quality and generous production.
- Better cold tolerance than most mandarins.
Its limits
- Later than some very early satsumas.
- Fruit is sensitive to freezing before the tree.
- Clone authenticity can be difficult to verify commercially.
Practical notes
- Origin
- French selection of Owari
- Harvest
- October through December
- Seeds
- Generally absent
Cold-hardiness reference: about 7°F (−14°C)
Isolated observations guarantee neither freedom from damage nor a crop; the reference concerns a mature, well-established tree.
Sources and method
The temperatures given are reference points for a mature tree with hardened wood. The table and callout repeat the same value as the profile. They guarantee neither freedom from damage nor a harvest after a freezing event.
Data reviewed on September 21, 2026.
- À l'ombre des figuiers — Origin, fruit, harvest, and cold observations
- Le Potager permacole — Cultivar testimony, flavor, and relative hardiness
- Fruitiers Rares — Satsuma comparisons and conditions that change cold resistance