In the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the winter cold changes a lot between the Durance and the mountains. One winter in ten, it falls to about −9 °C around Manosque and on the Valensole plateau, −15 °C in the Pays de Forcalquier and the Sisteronais, −17 °C around Digne and in the Préalpes, and −23 °C in the Ubaye valley.
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.
- −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:
−9 °Cone winter in ten
Manosque, the Valensole plateau and the Durance valley
Manosque, Valensole, Oraison, Riez, Les Mées, Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, Peyruis
See the citrus trees for this area
The mildest part of the département: −9 °C one winter in ten and −6 °C in an ordinary winter, at Valensole as at Saint-Auban. Citranges, kumquats, yuzus, satsumas and the hardiest clementines spend the winter outdoors here; orange trees and the other clementines need a fleece on frosty nights, against a south-facing wall. Lemon trees stay in pots. The soil is often chalky: plant on a mound.
Saint-Auban
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has chalky soils, fersialsol and foot-of-slope soils. In practice, the soil is often chalky and silty.
Rootstocks to favour: C35, 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 −9 °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
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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
-
Orisa 9 Tangor
down to −9 °C · €41.00
-
Yuzu 3
down to −15 °C · €38.00
-
Fukushu Kumquat
down to −10 °C · €32.30
See all 38 available plants that withstand −9 °C
Sold out for now: 31 other plants
On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Ambersweet, Auline, Bendizao Mandarin, Corsican Mountain Orange, Hana Yuzu, 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 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 −6 °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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Fina Clementine
down to −8 °C · €29.75
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Enzo Grapefruit
down to −8 °C · €35.00
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Murcott Tangor
down to −8 °C · €35.00
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Citradia
down to −8 °C · €35.00
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Tavares Limequat
down to −7 °C · €29.75
-
Cara Cara Orange
down to −8 °C · €35.00
-
Glauca
down to −8 °C · €38.00
See all 27 available plants that withstand −6 °C
Sold out for now: 15 other plants
On their page, “Notify me” lets you know when they are back: Dom Joao Orange, Fragola Orange, Hassaku, Iyo Mikan Tangor, Mandalate Mandarin, Moro Orange, 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 −6 °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.
−15 °Cone winter in ten
Pays de Forcalquier and the Sisteronais
Forcalquier, Sisteron, Mane, Dauphin, Saint-Étienne-les-Orgues, Peipin, Noyers-sur-Jabron
See the citrus trees for this area
The Forcalquier and Sisteron basins are clearly colder: −15 °C one winter in ten, and −16.1 °C at Sisteron. Dauphin, north of Manosque, already falls to −13.7 °C. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 live here in the ground without protection; the other yuzus and the hardiest satsumas need a fleece on frosty nights. The other citrus trees stay in pots. The soil is often chalky.
Sisteron
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has chalky soils, river alluvium and very thin soils over rock. In practice, the soil is often chalky.
Rootstock to favour: 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 −15 °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 −12 °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
-
Changsha Mandarin
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Sudachi Seneca
down to −12 °C · €42.00
-
Trivoss No. 1
down to −14 °C · €35.00
-
Citrangeremo
down to −14 °C · €29.75
-
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 14 available plants that withstand −12 °C
Sold out for now: 9 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 Saigon, Satsuma Waze, Thornless Yuzu.
The others: in a pot, brought in for the winter
Lemons, limes and less hardy citrus (more tender than −12 °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.
−17 °Cone winter in ten
Digne, the Préalpes and the Verdon
Digne-les-Bains, Castellane, Barrême, Annot, Saint-André-les-Alpes, La Motte-du-Caire, Turriers
See the citrus trees for this area
The Préalpes: −17 °C one winter in ten, at Digne-les-Bains as at Castellane, and −12 °C in an ordinary winter. Some stations fall lower: −19.4 °C at La Motte-du-Caire, −20.8 °C at La Mure-Argens. Only citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 cope in the ground, with a fleece at each frost. Keep the other citrus trees in pots, brought in for the winter.
La Mure-Argens
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has river alluvium, shallow chalky soils and very thin soils over rock. In practice, the soil is often chalky.
Rootstock to favour: 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 −17 °C. In the first years, a fleece on nights below −5 °C is a sensible precaution.
None of our available plants withstands this cold without protection: choose pot culture.
In open ground, with a fleece on frosty nights
They withstand −14 °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.
The others: in a pot, brought in for the winter
Lemons, limes and less hardy citrus (more tender than −14 °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.
−23 °Cone winter in ten
Ubaye valley
Barcelonnette, Jausiers, Faucon-de-Barcelonnette, Uvernet-Fours, Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye
See the citrus trees for this area
High mountains: −23 °C one winter in ten and −18 °C in an ordinary winter at Barcelonnette, which recorded −24.9 °C in February 1999. No citrus tree spends the winter outdoors here. Grow them in pots, brought in for the winter to a bright room protected from frost.
Barcelonnette
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has river alluvium, shallow chalky soils and ordinary brown soils.
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 −23 °C. In the first years, a fleece on nights below −5 °C is a sensible precaution.
None of our available plants withstands this cold without protection: choose pot culture.
In open ground, with a fleece on frosty nights
They withstand −20 °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.
No plant available in this range for now.
The others: in a pot, brought in for the winter
Lemons, limes and less hardy citrus (more tender than −20 °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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valensole | 600 m | −5.2 °C | −9.3 °C | −10.3 °C (3 January 2026) | 3 out of 30 |
| Saint-Auban | 458 m | −6.1 °C | −9.5 °C | −10.7 °C (18 December 2010) | 5 out of 30 |
| Dauphin | 427 m | −9.7 °C | −13.7 °C | −16.4 °C (7 February 2012) | 14 out of 23 |
| Digne-les-Bains | 554 m | −10.6 °C | −17.1 °C | −17.8 °C (4 February 2012) | 18 out of 23 |
| Turriers | 1020 m | −11 °C | −16.8 °C | −17 °C (1 February 2010) | 17 out of 23 |
| Sisteron | 500 m | −11.1 °C | −16.1 °C | −18 °C (12 January 2010) | 21 out of 28 |
| Bevons | 520 m | −11.5 °C | −14.6 °C | −17 °C (7 February 2012) | 18 out of 21 |
| Castellane | 729 m | −12.3 °C | −17.1 °C | −19.5 °C (18 December 2010) | 30 out of 30 |
| La Motte-du-Caire | 665 m | −13 °C | −19.4 °C | −19.6 °C (18 December 2010) | 19 out of 20 |
| La Mure-Argens | 920 m | −13.7 °C | −20.8 °C | −21.9 °C (7 February 2012) | 21 out of 21 |
| Jausiers (Sainte-Anne) | 1240 m | −16 °C | −20.5 °C | −24 °C (12 February 1999) | 30 out of 30 |
| Barcelonnette | 1155 m | −17.9 °C | −23 °C | −24.9 °C (13 February 1999) | 30 out of 30 |
| Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye | 1908 m | −19 °C | −22.7 °C | −23 °C (19 December 2010) | 22 out of 22 |
“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. In February 2012, Digne-les-Bains fell to −17.8 °C and La Mure-Argens to −21.9 °C. In the Ubaye, Barcelonnette recorded −24.9 °C on 13 February 1999. 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 Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
- Avoid hollows. Cold air flows down and collects at the bottom of valleys and in basins. The records show it: one winter in ten, Dauphin, at 427 m, falls to −13.7 °C, while Valensole, on the plateau at 600 m, stays at −9.3 °C. Plant halfway up a slope or against a south-facing wall, never at the lowest point of the garden.
- Allow for altitude. In the Pays de Forcalquier and the Sisteronais, citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 cope outdoors without protection, and the other yuzus (Yuzu 30, thornless, Tada Nishiki) and the hardiest satsumas under a fleece. Around Digne and in the Préalpes, only citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 cope outdoors, under a fleece. In the Ubaye, keep your citrus trees in pots.
- Take care of drainage. The soil is often chalky in the south of the département. In chalky or heavy soil, plant on a mound: too much water in winter weakens the roots.
- Choose the rootstock for your soil. 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 Manosque?
Not without risk. Lemon trees withstand about −5 °C, and the Durance valley falls to around −6 °C in an ordinary winter, −9 °C one winter in ten. 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 the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence?
Around Manosque and on the Valensole plateau, citranges, kumquats, yuzus, satsumas and the hardiest clementines spend the winter without protection. Higher up, choose citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3, which withstand −15 °C: without protection in the Pays de Forcalquier and the Sisteronais, with a fleece around Digne and in the Préalpes. They are brought together in Hardy citrus.
What about orange trees and clementines?
They withstand −7 to −9 °C depending on the variety. Around Manosque and on the Valensole plateau, the hardiest clementines spend the winter without protection. Orange trees and the other clementines can be grown in the ground with a fleece at each frost, sheltered by a south-facing wall. Elsewhere in the département, keep them in pots.
My town is not listed: which area should I choose?
Take the nearest area at the same altitude, then compare with the nearest station in the table of readings. Take off about one degree for every 150 m of extra altitude, and one or two degrees if you are in a hollow.
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).