• Address: 2032 Pasadena Ave, Metairie, LA 70001 (map)
• Date Posted: 11/14/09

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COLD TOLERANCE OF CITRUS

County agents get this question asked often about how cold of a temperature can my citrus tree stand. Citrons, lemons and limes are most easily killed by freezing temperatures. Temperatures in the high 20s will readily kill or severely damage these plants. Sweet oranges and grapefruit are somewhat more cold hardy and usually require temperatures in the mid-20s before incurring major damage to large branches.

Tangerines and mandarins are quite cold hardy, usually withstanding temperatures in the low 20s before incurring significant wood damage. The above information refers to leaf or wood and tree damage. The fruit itself easily freezes at 26-28 degrees that lasts for several hours.

The actual temperature at which tissue of a given plant will freeze and the degree of damage sustained are functions of a number of factors in addition to the species and variety involved. Some of the more important factors include:


The freezing temperature reached.

The duration of the freezing temperature.

How well was the plant hardened or conditioned before freezing temperatures occurred? Were there prior cold snaps before the freezes? Hardened citrus plants may be able to withstand five to six degrees lower than unhardened plants.


Age of tree. Mature trees often withstand colder temperatures than young trees.


Healthy trees are more hardy than stressed trees.



Trees growing on bare ground have a higher survival probability than trees growing in turf areas. The heat from the ground can radiate up on bare areas as opposed to being trapped by turf areas. This can be three to five degrees difference in the canopy of the tree.

County agents with the LSU AgCenter recommend you protect your citrus when the temperatures will be below 27 degrees for an extended period of time. This protection is for home-citrus practices generally and you should: For more info contact www.LSUAgCenter.com (home citrus production) or Ray 504-931-9768






Cover the entire plant, trying not to touch the foliage.


Extend the cover all the way to the ground and secure with bricks or other heavy object so wind does not blow it up.


Cover must be removed when temperatures rise above freezing.

We Ain't Afraid of No Cold! Think your area is just too cold to grow citrus? Then try these super cold hardy selections:

Calamondin 15 degrees F Chinnotto Orange 10 degrees F Changshi Tangerine 8 degrees F Meiwa Kumquat 15 degrees F Nagami Kumquat 15 degrees F Nippon Orangequat 15 degrees F Ichang Lemon 10 degrees F Tiwanica Lemon 10 degrees F U.S. 119 Orange 10 degrees F Rangpur Lime 15 degrees F Red Lime 10 degrees F Yuzu Lemon 12 degrees F
Most of the above trees will need to be ordered from a specialty grower.

All the trees in the pictures survived without any damage. Ray 931-9768

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