In the Val-d'Oise, the winter gets colder as you leave the built-up area towards the west. One winter in ten, the cold falls to about −10 °C from Argenteuil to Roissy, −12 °C around Cergy-Pontoise and in the Oise valley, and −13 °C on the Vexin plateau.
We went through thirty winters of Météo-France records, from 1996-1997 to 2025-2026, at five stations in the département, 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.
- −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:
−10 °Cone winter in ten
Argenteuil, Sarcelles and the Plaine de France
Argenteuil, Sarcelles, Garges-lès-Gonesse, Gonesse, Villiers-le-Bel, Goussainville, Roissy-en-France, Louvres
See the citrus trees for this area
From Argenteuil to Sarcelles and the runways of Roissy, the east of the département is the mildest: −10 °C one winter in ten, −7 °C in an ordinary winter. Le Bourget, in the middle of the built-up area, stays at −9.7 °C; Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, on the open plain, falls to −10.6 °C. Satsumas, yuzus, kumquats and citranges spend the winter outdoors; orange trees and clementines with a fleece, against a south-facing wall. Lemon trees stay in pots. The soil is mainly silty, sometimes clay or chalky.
Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle
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 silty, clayey 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 −10 °C. In the first years, a fleece on nights below −5 °C is a sensible precaution.
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Satsuma China S-2
down to −12 °C · €41.00
-
Ermelo Orange
down to −10 °C · €47.00
-
Changsha Mandarin
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Changshan Huyou
down to −11 °C · €38.00
-
Sudachi Seneca
down to −12 °C · €42.00
-
Yuzu 3
down to −15 °C · €38.00
-
Fukushu Kumquat
down to −10 °C · €32.30
-
Morton Citrange
down to −15 °C · €35.00
See all 32 available plants that withstand −10 °C
Sold out for now: 27 other plants
On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Ambersweet, Auline, Bendizao Mandarin, Corsican Mountain Orange, Hana Yuzu, 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, Yuzu.
In open ground, with a fleece on frosty nights
They withstand −7 °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.
-
Fukumoto Orange
down to −8 °C · €35.00
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Clemenules Clementine
down to −9 °C · €35.00
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Marsh Seedless Grapefruit
down to −9 °C · €29.75
-
Kabosu
down to −9 °C · €38.00
-
Orisa 9 Tangor
down to −9 °C · €41.00
-
Yuko
down to −9 °C · €38.00
-
Tavares Limequat
down to −7 °C · €29.75
-
Cara Cara Orange
down to −8 °C · €35.00
See all 33 available plants that withstand −7 °C
Sold out for now: 19 other plants
On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Dom Joao Orange, Fragola Orange, Haruka, Hassaku, Hyuganatsu, Iyo Mikan Tangor, Mandalate Mandarin, Mapo Tangelo, Moro Orange, Natsudaidai, Ota 38 Tangor, Salustiana Orange, Sciara x Clem Blood Tangor, Seminole, US SuperNa, Ugli, Vaniglia Sanguigno Orange, Wekiwa Tangelolo, Z194 Ichangensis x Sinensis.
The others: in a pot, brought in for the winter
Lemons, limes and less hardy citrus (more tender than −7 °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.
−12 °Cone winter in ten
Cergy-Pontoise and the Oise valley
Cergy, Pontoise, Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, Osny, Éragny, Auvers-sur-Oise, L'Isle-Adam, Beaumont-sur-Oise
See the citrus trees for this area
Around Cergy and Pontoise, the Oise valley freezes harder than the Plaine de France: −12 °C one winter in ten, but only −6 °C in an ordinary winter. The Pontoise station, in town, only covers 24 winters, up to 2019-2020. Citranges, yuzus and the hardiest satsumas stay outdoors; the other satsumas, kumquats and the hardiest clementines need a fleece. Orange trees, the other clementines and lemon trees stay in pots. On this chalky, silty soil, choose halfway up the hillsides rather than the valley bottom.
Pontoise (ville)
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has chalky soils, silty soils and river alluvium. In practice, the soil is often chalky and silty.
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 −12 °C. In the first years, a fleece on nights below −5 °C is a sensible precaution.
-
Satsuma China S-2
down to −12 °C · €41.00
-
Changsha Mandarin
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Sudachi Seneca
down to −12 °C · €42.00
-
Yuzu 3
down to −15 °C · €38.00
-
Morton Citrange
down to −15 °C · €35.00
-
Clemyuz
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Eremorange
down to −12 °C · €35.00
-
Satsuma Owari FS
down to −12 °C · €42.00
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.
-
Satsuma Miyagawa
down to −10 °C · €38.00
-
Ermelo Orange
down to −10 °C · €47.00
-
Shekwasha
down to −11 °C · €34.85
-
Changshan Huyou
down to −11 °C · €38.00
-
Kinkoji
down to −10 °C · €38.00
-
Orisa 9 Tangor
down to −9 °C · €41.00
-
Yuko
down to −9 °C · €38.00
-
Fukushu Kumquat
down to −10 °C · €32.30
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
The French Vexin
Magny-en-Vexin, Marines, Vigny, Chars, Cormeilles-en-Vexin, Wy-dit-Joli-Village
See the citrus trees for this area
The Vexin plateau, open to the wind, is the coldest part: −13 °C one winter in ten, −8 °C in an ordinary winter. The Pontoise-Cormeilles airfield (−12.9 °C) and Wy-dit-Joli-Village (−13.1 °C) are close together, almost three degrees below Le Bourget. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter outdoors here; the other yuzus, satsumas and kumquats under a fleece on frosty nights. The soil is often chalky, silty and clay: if it is heavy, plant on a mound.
Wy-dit-Joli-Village
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has silty soils, soils over clay, waterlogged in winter and foot-of-slope soils. In practice, the soil is often chalky, silty and clayey.
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.
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.
-
Satsuma China S-2
down to −12 °C · €41.00
-
Ermelo Orange
down to −10 °C · €47.00
-
Changsha Mandarin
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Changshan Huyou
down to −11 °C · €38.00
-
Sudachi Seneca
down to −12 °C · €42.00
-
Ichang Lemon Shangyuan
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Fukushu Kumquat
down to −10 °C · €32.30
-
US 119
down to −12 °C · €35.00
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.
Readings from the Météo-France stations (winters 1996-1997 to 2025-2026)
| Station | Altitude | Ordinary winter | One winter in ten | Record | Winters at −9 °C or below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle | 108 m | −6.1 °C | −10.6 °C | −13 °C (1 January 1997) | 5 out of 30 |
| Pontoise (town) | 50 m | −6.3 °C | −11.5 °C | −12.5 °C (1 January 1997) | 6 out of 24 |
| Le Bourget (airport) | 49 m | −7 °C | −9.7 °C | −12.6 °C (1 January 1997) | 5 out of 30 |
| Aérodrome de Pontoise-Cormeilles | 87 m | −8 °C | −12.9 °C | −15.4 °C (7 February 2012) | 11 out of 30 |
| Wy-dit-Joli-Village | 126 m | −8 °C | −13.1 °C | −15.8 °C (7 January 2009) | 10 out of 26 |
“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 1 January 1997, Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle fell to −13.0 °C and Pontoise to −12.5 °C. In the Vexin, Wy-dit-Joli-Village recorded −15.8 °C on 7 January 2009, and the Pontoise-Cormeilles airfield −15.4 °C on 7 February 2012. 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 the Val-d'Oise
- In the Vexin, shelter from the wind. The plateau is open and clear nights are cold there: one winter in ten, it falls almost three degrees lower than Le Bourget. Plant against the house, a stone wall or a dense hedge, facing south.
- In the Oise valley, avoid the bottom of the plot. Cold air slides down the hillsides and collects at the bottom: Pontoise, even though it is in town, freezes harder than Le Bourget one winter in ten. A garden halfway up a slope, facing south, is the best spot.
- In a flat, take care of the pot. On a balcony in Argenteuil, Sarcelles or Cergy, the wind quickly chills the root ball. Choose a large container, insulate it on frosty nights, raise it and empty the saucer.
- Allow for chalk. The soil is often chalky in the Oise valley and in the Vexin. Poncirus remains the most cold-resistant; FA5 copes better with chalky, dry soil. In heavy soil, plant on a mound. To choose: Which rootstock should you choose?
- Plant in spring, when the frosts are over: the tree has the whole warm season to settle in. From September onwards, no more fertiliser and no pruning.
- Protect young plants on nights below −5 °C, in the first years. The winter fleece goes on at each frost and comes off as soon as the frost stops.
- Only mulch in summer, against drought, leaving the trunk clear. At the end of autumn, pull the straw away from the foot of the tree: moisture at the collar encourages phytophthora.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave a lemon tree in the ground in Argenteuil?
No, not all year round. It withstands about −5 °C, and at Le Bourget that cold is reached about four winters out of five. Keep it in a pot and bring it in, protected from frost, into a bright room, as soon as the first frosts come. For a sour fruit in the garden, think of yuzus: Yuzu and Yuzu 3 withstand −15 °C, the other yuzus (Yuzu 30, thornless, Tada Nishiki) −12 °C; see Lemons and lemon substitutes.
Which citrus trees are the safest in the Val-d'Oise?
Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3, which withstand −15 °C, spend the winter outdoors everywhere, the Vexin included. The other yuzus and the hardiest satsumas stay outdoors without protection in the east of the département and around Cergy-Pontoise; in the Vexin, they need a fleece on frosty nights. In the east, all satsumas and kumquats also manage without it. See Hardy citrus and Satsumas.
Are orange trees and clementines possible?
Orange trees withstand −8 °C, clementines −7 to −9 °C, against −10 °C one winter in ten in the east. From Argenteuil to Roissy, orange trees and clementines can try the ground with a fleece on frosty nights, against a south-facing wall. Around Cergy-Pontoise, only the hardiest clementines, with a fleece; keep orange trees in pots. In the Vexin, keep them all in pots.
My town is not listed: how do I find my area?
If you are in the built-up area, between the Seine and the Plaine de France, take the first area. On the banks of the Oise or on its hillsides, the second; on the plateau, between the Oise and the Epte, the third. Take off one or two degrees if your garden is in a hollow or on very open ground.
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).