Citrus outdoors in Seine-et-Marne (77): which ones withstand the cold?

In Seine-et-Marne, winters are cold and frost goes deep. One winter in ten, it reaches about −12 °C in the Marne valley, −13 °C around Melun and Fontainebleau, and −14 °C on the Brie plateau.

We went through thirty winters of Météo-France records, from 1996 to 2026, and compared them with the hardiness of each of our plants. Choose your area below. You will find:

  • the citrus trees that spend the winter outdoors without protection;
  • those that need a fleece on frosty nights;
  • those that stay in a pot.

The lists are kept up to date: only the plants available today are shown with a photo.

Aisne (02): −15 °C one winter in tenArdennes (08): −15 °C one winter in tenAube (10): −15 °C one winter in tenCher (18): −13 °C one winter in tenCôte-d'Or (21): −16 °C one winter in tenEure (27): −13 °C one winter in tenEure-et-Loir (28): −14 °C one winter in tenLoir-et-Cher (41): −13 °C one winter in tenLoiret (45): −14 °C one winter in tenMarne (51): −13 °C one winter in tenNièvre (58): −14 °C one winter in tenOise (60): −13 °C one winter in tenParis (75): −9 °C one winter in tenSeine-Maritime (76): −10 °C one winter in tenSeine-et-Marne (77): −13 °C one winter in tenYvelines (78): −12 °C one winter in tenSomme (80): −13 °C one winter in tenYonne (89): −14 °C one winter in tenEssonne (91): −13 °C one winter in tenHauts-de-Seine (92): −11 °C one winter in tenSeine-Saint-Denis (93): −12 °C one winter in tenVal-de-Marne (94): −11 °C one winter in tenVal-d'Oise (95): −12 °C one winter in ten0208101821272841455158607576777880899192939495
  • −5 °C or milder
  • −6 to −7 °C
  • −8 to −9 °C
  • −10 to −11 °C
  • −12 to −13 °C
  • −14 to −15 °C
  • −16 to −17 °C
  • −18 to −19 °C
  • −20 °C and colder

Colour: the cold of one winter in ten, on the plain. Click on a neighbouring département to see its page. Map of the whole of France.

Choose your area:

−12 °Cone winter in ten

Marne valley, Meaux and Marne-la-Vallée

Meaux, Chelles, Torcy, Lagny-sur-Marne, Dammartin-en-Goële, La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Coulommiers See the citrus trees for this area

The least cold part of the département: −12 °C one winter in ten, −8 °C in an ordinary winter. The valley bottoms have much more frost: one winter in ten, Changis falls to −10.7 °C, but Ussy-sur-Marne, a few kilometres away, to −15 °C. Citranges, yuzus and the hardiest satsumas spend the winter outdoors here; the other satsumas, kumquats and the hardiest clementines with a fleece. Orange trees, the other clementines and lemon trees stay in pots. Plant on the hillside rather than by the water.

−12 °Cone winter in ten
−8 °Can ordinary winter
−15.5 °Crecord, 7 January 2009
Ussy-sur-Marne

The soil of the area and the rootstock

According to the soil map, this area mostly has river alluvium, silty soils and ordinary brown soils. In practice, the soil is often clayey and silty.

Rootstocks to favour: Poncirus, then FA5.

Your plot may be different. Look at the Géoportail soil map (in French) around your home, then refine with our 5-step test.

In open ground, without protection

They withstand −12 °C. In the first years, a fleece on nights below −5 °C is a sensible precaution.

See all 17 available plants that withstand −12 °C

Sold out for now: 11 other plants

On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Ambersweet, Auline, Bendizao Mandarin, Hana Yuzu, Satsuma Dobashi Beni, Satsuma Kowano, Satsuma Louisiana, Satsuma Saigon, Satsuma Waze, Thornless Yuzu, Yuzu.

In open ground, with a fleece on frosty nights

They withstand −9 °C. A winter fleece put on at each frost and removed as soon as the frost stops, and a sheltered spot against a south-facing wall.

See all 21 available plants that withstand −9 °C

Sold out for now: 20 other plants

On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Corsican Mountain Orange, Haruka, Harumi, Hyuganatsu, Jabara, Juanita Mandarin, Kino Kuni Mikakukishu Mandarin, Mapo Tangelo, Meiwa Kumquat, Minneola, Nameiwa Kumquat, Natsudaidai, Rio Red Grapefruit, Sanbokan, Satsuma China S-3, Satsuma Iwasaki, Satsuma Miho, Satsuma Pucheng, Setubalense Mandarin, Shunkokan.

The others: in a pot, brought in for the winter

Lemons, limes and less hardy citrus (more tender than −9 °C): in a large pot, outdoors from spring to autumn and brought into a bright, frost-free room for the winter. All our citrus trees.

−13 °Cone winter in ten

Melun, Fontainebleau and the Seine and Loing valleys

Melun, Dammarie-les-Lys, Le Mée-sur-Seine, Fontainebleau, Montereau-Fault-Yonne, Nemours See the citrus trees for this area

Around Melun, count on −13 °C one winter in ten and −8 °C in an ordinary winter. The Fontainebleau forest is colder: −14.6 °C one winter in ten at the Fontainebleau station. Only citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter here without protection; the other yuzus, satsumas and kumquats need a fleece at each frost, against a south-facing wall. The other citrus trees stay in pots. The soil is often chalky: plant on a mound.

−13 °Cone winter in ten
−8 °Can ordinary winter
−17.5 °Crecord, 8 January 2010
Melun

The soil of the area and the rootstock

According to the soil map, this area mostly has very acid sands and silty soils. In practice, the soil is often clayey, silty and chalky.

Rootstocks to favour: FA5, then Poncirus. Poncirus only if the active lime stays below about 5% (soil analysis).

Your plot may be different. Look at the Géoportail soil map (in French) around your home, then refine with our 5-step test.

In open ground, without protection

They withstand −13 °C. In the first years, a fleece on nights below −5 °C is a sensible precaution.

See these plants in the catalogue

Sold out for now: 2 other plants

On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Hana Yuzu, Yuzu.

In open ground, with a fleece on frosty nights

They withstand −10 °C. A winter fleece put on at each frost and removed as soon as the frost stops, and a sheltered spot against a south-facing wall.

See all 27 available plants that withstand −10 °C

Sold out for now: 25 other plants

On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Ambersweet, Auline, Bendizao Mandarin, Corsican Mountain Orange, Harumi, Jabara, Juanita Mandarin, Kino Kuni Mikakukishu Mandarin, Meiwa Kumquat, Minneola, Nameiwa Kumquat, Rio Red Grapefruit, Sanbokan, Satsuma China S-3, Satsuma Dobashi Beni, Satsuma Iwasaki, Satsuma Kowano, Satsuma Louisiana, Satsuma Miho, Satsuma Pucheng, Satsuma Saigon, Satsuma Waze, Setubalense Mandarin, Shunkokan, Thornless Yuzu.

The others: in a pot, brought in for the winter

Lemons, limes and less hardy citrus (more tender than −10 °C): in a large pot, outdoors from spring to autumn and brought into a bright, frost-free room for the winter. All our citrus trees.

−14 °Cone winter in ten

Brie plateau

Provins, Nangis, Fontenay-Trésigny, Rozay-en-Brie, Tournan-en-Brie, Jouy-le-Châtel See the citrus trees for this area

The plateau, open to the winds, is the coldest area: −14 °C one winter in ten, −7 °C in an ordinary winter, and −18.8 °C recorded at Nangis in January 2010. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 live in the ground here without protection; the other yuzus and the hardiest satsumas need a fleece on frosty nights, sheltered by a wall. Keep the other citrus trees in pots. The silts of the Brie are often clay and heavy: plant on a mound.

−14 °Cone winter in ten
−7 °Can ordinary winter
−18.8 °Crecord, 8 January 2010
Nangis

The soil of the area and the rootstock

According to the soil map, this area mostly has silty soils and chalky soils. In practice, the soil is often clayey and silty.

Rootstocks to favour: Poncirus, then FA5.

Your plot may be different. Look at the Géoportail soil map (in French) around your home, then refine with our 5-step test.

In open ground, without protection

They withstand −14 °C. In the first years, a fleece on nights below −5 °C is a sensible precaution.

See these plants in the catalogue

Sold out for now: 2 other plants

On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Hana Yuzu, Yuzu.

In open ground, with a fleece on frosty nights

They withstand −11 °C. A winter fleece put on at each frost and removed as soon as the frost stops, and a sheltered spot against a south-facing wall.

See all 14 available plants that withstand −11 °C

Sold out for now: 10 other plants

On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Ambersweet, Auline, Bendizao Mandarin, Satsuma Dobashi Beni, Satsuma Kowano, Satsuma Louisiana, Satsuma Miho, Satsuma Saigon, Satsuma Waze, Thornless Yuzu.

The others: in a pot, brought in for the winter

Lemons, limes and less hardy citrus (more tender than −11 °C): in a large pot, outdoors from spring to autumn and brought into a bright, frost-free room for the winter. All our citrus trees.

Readings from the Météo-France stations (winters 1996-1997 to 2025-2026)
StationAltitudeOrdinary winterOne winter in tenRecordWinters at −9 °C or below
Mouroux148 m−6.4 °C−11.4 °C−14.4 °C (1 January 1997)8 out of 29
Changis70 m−6.8 °C−10.7 °C−14.2 °C (7 January 2009)8 out of 28
Chevru158 m−6.9 °C−13.9 °C−15.8 °C (8 January 2010)12 out of 30
La Brosse-Montceaux77 m−7 °C−12.8 °C−13.6 °C (4 February 2012)10 out of 30
Torcy43 m−7 °C−11.5 °C−12.6 °C (7 January 2009)6 out of 30
Voulton175 m−7 °C−13 °C−14.7 °C (1 January 1997)10 out of 29
Nangis128 m−7.2 °C−14.5 °C−18.8 °C (8 January 2010)10 out of 30
Melun91 m−7.3 °C−12.7 °C−17.5 °C (8 January 2010)9 out of 30
Fontenay-Trésigny105 m−7.5 °C−14.2 °C−16.3 °C (8 January 2010)8 out of 20
Dammartin-en-Goële111 m−8 °C−13.3 °C−14.2 °C (1 January 1997)6 out of 21
Bezalles163 m−8.2 °C−14.1 °C−15.8 °C (8 January 2010)10 out of 24
Nemours73 m−8.5 °C−13.1 °C−13.4 °C (7 February 2012)14 out of 30
Saint-Cyr-sur-Morin63 m−10 °C−14 °C−15 °C (7 February 2012)15 out of 23
Ussy-sur-Marne69 m−10 °C−15 °C−15.5 °C (7 January 2009)15 out of 23
Fontainebleau84 m−10.5 °C−14.6 °C−16.1 °C (8 January 2010)22 out of 30

“Ordinary winter”: half of the winters go colder, the other half less cold. “One winter in ten”: this cold is reached or exceeded in about one winter in ten. Calculations by the Greffeur d'agrumes nursery.

How to read these figures

The hardiness given on our product pages is the cold that an adult, healthy and hardened citrus tree withstands during a short frost. We compare it with the cold that comes back about one winter in ten: a plant listed “without protection” withstands at least that cold. In harsher winters, about three in thirty, keep a winter fleece ready for the coldest nights.

Very harsh winters are still possible. On 8 January 2010, Nangis fell to −18.8 °C and Melun to −17.5 °C. Such cold can burn the leaves or a few shoots of a citrus tree that is only just hardy enough. Wait for spring to see what grows back before pruning.

To understand what helps a tree get through frost, read Understanding citrus hardiness.

Our advice for Seine-et-Marne

  • Avoid hollows. Cold air flows down and collects at the bottom of valleys. The records show it: one winter in ten, Ussy-sur-Marne falls to −15 °C, while Changis, on the same river, stops at −10.7 °C. Plant halfway up a slope or against a south-facing wall, never at the lowest point of the garden.
  • Take care of drainage. The silts of the Brie are often clay and hold water in winter. In heavy or chalky soil, plant on a mound.
  • Choose the rootstock for your soil. Here, the cold comes before everything: Poncirus is the most cold-resistant. In chalky, dry soil, FA5 does better. Our 5-step test helps you choose: Which rootstock should you choose?
  • Plant in spring, once the frosts are over. The tree then has a whole season to take root before its first winter.
  • Protect young plants on nights below −5 °C during the first years. Put the winter fleece on at each frost and take it off as soon as the frost stops.
  • Mulch in summer only, against drought, without the straw touching the trunk. Pull it away from the foot of the tree at the end of autumn: moisture at the collar encourages phytophthora.

Frequently asked questions

Can I plant a lemon tree in the ground in Meaux?

No. Lemon trees withstand about −5 °C, and the Marne valley falls to around −8 °C in an ordinary winter. Keep them in pots, brought in for the winter. For a sour fruit in the ground, choose a yuzu or a hardy lemon substitute instead. You will find them in Lemons and lemon substitutes.

Which citrus trees withstand the cold best in Seine-et-Marne?

Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3, which withstand −15 °C, spend the winter outdoors without protection throughout the département. The other yuzus (Yuzu 30, thornless, Tada Nishiki) withstand −12 °C: without protection in the Marne valley, with a fleece around Melun and on the Brie plateau. They are brought together in Hardy citrus.

What about orange trees and clementines?

They withstand −7 to −9 °C depending on the variety. In the Marne valley, only the hardiest clementines are grown in the ground, with a fleece at each frost, against a south-facing wall. Elsewhere, and for orange trees everywhere, keep them in pots, brought in for the winter to a bright room protected from frost.

My town is not listed: which area should I choose?

Take the nearest area, then compare with the nearest station in the table of readings. Take off one or two degrees if you are in a hollow or at the bottom of a valley.

These figures are guidelines. Your garden may be milder or colder than the nearest station. A question about your plot? Write to us.

Sources: Météo-France, daily basic climatological data (data.gouv.fr, Licence Ouverte 2.0); near the eastern border, also the Deutscher Wetterdienst (Datenlizenz Deutschland 2.0); towns, altitudes and boundaries: INSEE, IGN (Admin Express, RGE ALTI) and geo.api.gouv.fr (Licence Ouverte); soils: dominant soil map INRAE / Gis Sol (Licence Ouverte). Topsoil lime: LUCAS, European Commission, JRC (ESDAC, Ballabio et al. 2019).

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