Citrus for USDA Zone 8a

A flattened orange citrus fruit hanging on a branch

Tami Kawa Wase Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Tami Kawa Wase satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Tami Kawa’) is an early satsuma selection from the Japanese region of the same name, chosen for its flavor quality and early harvest. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The tree reaches 6.5 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with the spreading, weeping habit characteristic of satsumas, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens from late October with particularly juicy, sweet, low-acid flesh, with a flavor quality comparable to classic Owari. Ideal for regions where the first frosts come early. Excellent fresh, as juice and as sorbet. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata.

A pile of orange citrus fruit at a market

Sugiyama Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Sugiyama satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Sugiyama’) is a traditional Japanese satsuma selection from the Sugiyama region, appreciated for the consistent quality of its production and its cold resistance. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The tree reaches about 11.5 ft (3.5 m) according to Vessière, with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens in November to December with juicy, sweet, low-acid flesh. Excellent fresh, as juice and as sorbet. A reference satsuma for stable production in a temperate climate. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; plant against a south-facing wall in well-drained soil with generous winter mulch.

Silver Hill Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Silver Hill satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Silverhill’) is an old American satsuma selection, from a nucellar selection made in Florida around 1908, then named and distributed around 1931 at Silverhill, Alabama, famous for its flavor quality and earliness. Its hardiness reaches 9°F (−13°C) on the tree, among the hardiest satsumas, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zones 7b and 8a. The tree reaches about 10 ft (3 m) on Pépins Perdus material, up to 15 ft (4.5 m) according to Vessière, with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens from late October with particularly juicy, sweet, low-acid and delicately fragrant flesh. Ideal for regions where the first frosts come early. Excellent fresh, as juice and as sorbet. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; south-facing wall.

Orange citrus fruit in a bowl beside a kitchen sink

Saïgon Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Saïgon satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Saïgon’) is an old satsuma selection adapted to subtropical and warm temperate climates, introduced by French nurserymen in the early 20th century. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The tree reaches 6.5 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens in November to December with juicy, sweet, low-acid, fragrant flesh. Excellent fresh, as juice and as sorbet. An interesting variety for French coastal gardens on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; plant against a south-facing wall in well-drained soil.

A garden citrus tree bearing orange fruit beside a path

Owari Francis Soules Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Owari ‘Francis Soules’ satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Francis Soules’) is a French selection of the classic Owari satsuma, made by the nurseryman Francis Soules to adapt this Japanese variety to the climates of southwestern France. Its hardiness reaches 7°F (−14°C) on the tree, slightly higher than standard Owari, among the hardiest mandarins in the world. Suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zones 7b and 8a. The tree reaches 6.5 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) on average according to La Maison du Bananier, and about 11.5 ft (3.5 m) according to Vessière and Le Bois gourmand, with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens from November with juicy, sweet, low-acid flesh. Excellent fresh, as juice and as sorbet. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; plant against a south-facing wall.

A garden citrus tree bearing orange fruit beside a fence

Okitsu Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Okitsu satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Okitsu’) is an early Japanese satsuma selection from the Okitsu institute, a famous Japanese citrus research center. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The tree reaches 6.5 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens from late October with particularly juicy, sweet, low-acid flesh and a much-appreciated flavor quality. A reference variety in modern Japanese satsuma breeding programs, widely distributed in southern Europe. Excellent fresh, as juice and as sorbet. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; south-facing wall.

Orange citrus fruit clustered among leaves

Miyagawa Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Miyagawa satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Miyagawa’) is one of the most widely distributed Japanese satsuma selections in the world, from the Japanese region of the same name. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The tree reaches 6.5 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin skin that is easy to peel, ripens in November to December with particularly juicy, sweet, low-acid, fragrant flesh. An excellent producer with consistent flavor quality. Ideal fresh, as juice and as sorbet. A variety recommended for home gardens and semi-professional production. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; plant against a south-facing wall in well-drained soil.

Green-orange citrus fruit hanging on branches

Kuno Wase Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Origin: Kuno Wase belongs to the ‘Goku Wase’ group (very early). Discovered in Japan in 1910, it is a mutation […]

Whole and peeled orange citrus fruit beside a mug

Japan Seedless Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Japan Seedless satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Japan Seedless’) is a modern Japanese satsuma selection completely free of seeds, appreciated for its pure flavor and ease of eating. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The tree reaches about 11.5 ft (3.5 m) according to Vessière, with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers in spring. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), absolutely seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens in November to December with very juicy, sweet, low-acid flesh. Ideal for children and eating out of hand. Excellent as juice and sorbet. A variety recommended for families with children. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; plant against a south-facing wall in well-drained soil.

Orange citrus fruit hanging on a branch in a garden

Collot Satsuma Mandarin

Léo / January 22, 2026

Collot satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Collot’) is a French satsuma selection, identified by the nurseryman Collot in southwestern France in the 20th century for its adaptation to the French oceanic climate. Its hardiness reaches 10°F (−12°C) on the tree, making it suitable for in-ground planting in USDA zone 8a. The tree reaches 10 to 13 ft (3 to 4 m) with a spreading, weeping habit, evergreen foliage and fragrant white flowers. Its bright orange fruit, medium-sized, 3.5 to 5.3 oz (100 to 150 g), seedless, with thin skin that is very easy to peel, ripens in November to December with juicy, sweet, low-acid, fragrant flesh. A historic French variety prized for the regularity of its production in Atlantic climates. Excellent fresh, as juice and as sorbet. Graft onto Poncirus trifoliata; plant against a south-facing wall.