In the Nièvre, the winter cold does not follow altitude: the valleys, where cold air collects, freeze harder than the high ground. One winter in ten, it falls to about −12 °C in the Morvan, −13 °C in the Bazois and central Nivernais, and −14 °C around Clamecy, Nevers and in the Loire 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:
−12 °Cone winter in ten
Morvan
Château-Chinon, Lormes, Montsauche-les-Settons, Ouroux-en-Morvan, Montigny-en-Morvan
See the citrus trees for this area
On the high ground, cold air flows down towards the valleys: one winter in ten, Château-Chinon (598 m) stops at −12.2 °C, while Montigny-en-Morvan (285 m), lower down, falls to −14.4 °C. Count on −12 °C one winter in ten, −9 °C in an ordinary winter. Citranges, yuzus and the hardiest satsumas spend the winter outdoors here; the other satsumas, kumquats and the hardiest clementines need a fleece at each frost. Orange trees and the other clementines stay in pots. On these rather acid soils, choose a well-exposed hillside rather than a valley floor.
Montigny-en-Morvan
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has ordinary brown soils, acid soils and soils waterlogged part of the year. In practice, the soil is often acid and winter-wet.
Rootstocks to favour: Poncirus, then 4475.
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
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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
Bazois, Amognes and central Nivernais
Prémery, Corbigny, Saint-Saulge, Châtillon-en-Bazois, Saint-Benin-d'Azy
See the citrus trees for this area
The centre of the département, between the Loire valley and the Morvan: −13 °C one winter in ten, −10 °C in an ordinary winter, and −14.6 °C at Prémery, in the Nièvre valley. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter outdoors here; satsumas, the other yuzus and kumquats need a fleece at each frost, against a south-facing wall. The soils, often chalky and clay, drain poorly: plant on a mound.
Prémery
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has chalky soils, ordinary brown soils and calcium-rich but barely chalky soils. In practice, the soil is often chalky 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.
−14 °Cone winter in ten
Clamecy and the Yonne valleys
Clamecy, Varzy, Tannay, Brinon-sur-Beuvron
See the citrus trees for this area
A single station, Clamecy (215 m), where the Yonne and the Beuvron meet, serves as a reference: −14 °C one winter in ten, −9 °C in an ordinary winter. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter outdoors here; the other yuzus and the hardiest satsumas need a fleece at each frost; keep the other citrus trees in pots. In chalky, clay soil, plant on a mound.
Clamecy
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has calcium-rich but barely chalky soils, ordinary brown soils and soils waterlogged part of the year. In practice, the soil is often chalky 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 −14 °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 −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.
-
Satsuma China S-2
down to −12 °C · €41.00
-
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
-
US 119
down to −12 °C · €35.00
-
Clemyuz
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Eremorange
down to −12 °C · €35.00
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.
−14 °Cone winter in ten
Nevers and the Loire valley
Nevers, Varennes-Vauzelles, Fourchambault, Guérigny, La Charité-sur-Loire, Imphy, Decize, Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier
See the citrus trees for this area
The Loire valley is not the mildest corner of the département: cold air collects there. Count on −14 °C one winter in ten, −10 °C in an ordinary winter, and −15.8 °C at Dornes, in the south, between the Loire and the Allier. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter outdoors here; the other yuzus and the hardiest satsumas need a fleece at each frost, against a south-facing wall; the other citrus trees stay in pots.
Dornes
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has ordinary brown soils, chalky soils and silty soils. In practice, the soil is often chalky, clayey 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 −14 °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 −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.
-
Satsuma China S-2
down to −12 °C · €41.00
-
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
-
US 119
down to −12 °C · €35.00
-
Clemyuz
down to −12 °C · €38.00
-
Eremorange
down to −12 °C · €35.00
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)
| Station | Altitude | Ordinary winter | One winter in ten | Record | Winters at −9 °C or below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier | 218 m | −8.2 °C | −12.3 °C | −15 °C (12 February 2012) | 13 out of 30 |
| Lormes | 485 m | −8.7 °C | −11.7 °C | −13.8 °C (7 February 2012) | 11 out of 30 |
| Château-Chinon | 598 m | −8.8 °C | −12.2 °C | −13.9 °C (7 February 2012) | 14 out of 30 |
| Crux-la-Ville | 283 m | −9 °C | −11.7 °C | −12.3 °C (2 January 1997) | 11 out of 20 |
| Clamecy | 215 m | −9.3 °C | −14 °C | −14 °C (1 March 2005) | 14 out of 25 |
| Varennes-Vauzelles (2) | 208 m | −9.4 °C | −13 °C | −13.1 °C (1 March 2005) | 11 out of 20 |
| Varennes-Vauzelles | 208 m | −9.6 °C | −13.6 °C | −13.8 °C (1 March 2005) | 16 out of 24 |
| Montigny-en-Morvan | 285 m | −9.8 °C | −14.4 °C | −14.5 °C (1 March 2005) | 15 out of 24 |
| Ourouer | 262 m | −10 °C | −13 °C | −13.5 °C (1 March 2005) | 15 out of 23 |
| Prémery | 260 m | −10.1 °C | −14.6 °C | −15.1 °C (26 January 2007) | 17 out of 30 |
| Nevers-Marzy | 175 m | −10.2 °C | −13.8 °C | −14.8 °C (1 January 1997) | 21 out of 30 |
| Guérigny | 205 m | −10.5 °C | −13.5 °C | −14.1 °C (9 February 2012) | 15 out of 23 |
| Dornes | 220 m | −10.9 °C | −15.8 °C | −16.7 °C (12 February 2012) | 20 out of 23 |
“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 12 February 2012, Dornes fell to −16.7 °C and Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier to −15.0 °C. On 1 January 1997, Nevers-Marzy recorded −14.8 °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 the Nièvre
- Avoid hollows. Cold air flows down and collects at the bottom of valleys and in basins. The records show it: one winter in ten, Montigny-en-Morvan (285 m) falls to −14.4 °C, while Château-Chinon, 300 m higher, stops at −12.2 °C. Plant halfway up a slope or against a south-facing wall, never at the lowest point of the garden.
- Take care of drainage. In the Bazois and around Clamecy, the soils are often chalky and clay and hold water in winter. In heavy or chalky soil, plant on a mound.
- Choose the rootstock for your soil. Poncirus is the most cold-resistant. In chalky 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 Nevers?
No. Lemon trees withstand about −5 °C, and Nevers falls to around −10 °C in an ordinary winter. Keep them in pots, brought in for the winter. For a sour fruit in the ground, choose a citrange instead, which spends the winter outdoors around Nevers, or a yuzu: Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter outdoors throughout the département; the other yuzus (Yuzu 30, thornless, Tada Nishiki), without protection in the Morvan and with a fleece elsewhere. You will find them in Lemons and lemon substitutes.
Which citrus trees withstand the cold best in the Nièvre?
The hardiest hybrids, such as citranges, withstand −15 °C: they spend the winter outdoors without protection throughout the département, like Yuzu and Yuzu 3. The other yuzus and the hardiest satsumas withstand −12 °C: without protection in the Morvan, with a fleece elsewhere. Kumquats and the other satsumas cope with a fleece in the Morvan and the Bazois, and stay in pots elsewhere. They are brought together in Hardy citrus.
What about orange trees and clementines?
They withstand −7 to −9 °C depending on the variety: that is not enough for almost all of the Nièvre. Only the hardiest clementines hold out in the Morvan, with a fleece at each frost, on a well-exposed hillside. Grow the others in pots and bring them in for the winter.
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. Here, position matters more than altitude: 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).