In the Pas-de-Calais, the winter cold increases the further you go from the sea. One winter in ten, it falls to about −10 °C on the Côte d'Opale, and −13 °C in the Haut-Pays, the Ternois, around Arras and in the mining basin.
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:
−10 °Cone winter in ten
Côte d'Opale
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, Berck, Étaples, Wimereux, Marck
See the citrus trees for this area
The sea softens the winters: −10 °C one winter in ten, −6 °C in an ordinary winter. One winter in ten, Boulogne-sur-Mer only falls to −8.6 °C, Calais-Marck, on the plain, to −11.3 °C. Satsumas, yuzus, kumquats and citranges spend the winter outdoors here; orange trees and clementines need a fleece at each frost, against a south-facing wall. Lemon trees stay in pots. The sea wind and the salt spray damage the leaves: plant in the shelter of a hedge or a wall.
Calais-Marck
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has salty coastal soils and very thin soils over rock. In practice, the soil is often winter-wet, clayey and salty (sea spray, marshes).
Rootstock to favour: 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 −10 °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
-
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
-
Clemenules Clementine
down to −9 °C · €35.00
-
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.
−13 °Cone winter in ten
Haut-Pays, Montreuillois and Ternois
Montreuil-sur-Mer, Desvres, Lumbres, Licques, Fruges, Hesdin, Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise
See the citrus trees for this area
The hills of the hinterland, with silty and clay soils: −13 °C one winter in ten, −7 °C in an ordinary winter. One winter in ten, Licques, at the bottom of its valley, falls to −14.5 °C, Fiefs, higher up, to −12.0 °C. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter outdoors here; the other yuzus, satsumas and kumquats need a fleece at each frost. Orange trees, clementines and lemon trees stay in pots.
Radinghem
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has ordinary brown soils, soils waterlogged part of the year and shallow 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 −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.
−13 °Cone winter in ten
Arras, the mining basin and Artois
Arras, Lens, Liévin, Béthune, Hénin-Beaumont, Bruay-la-Buissière, Lillers, Bapaume
See the citrus trees for this area
The inland area, further from the sea: −13 °C one winter in ten, −8 °C in an ordinary winter. Low ground freezes harder: one winter in ten, Lillers falls to −14.5 °C, Arras to −12.4 °C. Citranges, Yuzu and Yuzu 3 spend the winter outdoors here; the other yuzus, satsumas and kumquats need a fleece at each frost, against a south-facing wall. Orange trees, clementines and lemon trees stay in pots. The soils are mainly silty, sometimes clay.
Lillers
The soil of the area and the rootstock
According to the soil map, this area mostly has ordinary brown soils and soils waterlogged part of the year. In practice, the soil is often silty and clayey.
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 −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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulogne-sur-Mer | 73 m | −4 °C | −8.6 °C | −12 °C (2 January 1997) | 2 out of 30 |
| Calais-Marck | 2 m | −5.7 °C | −11.3 °C | −14 °C (8 January 2010) | 6 out of 30 |
| Le Touquet | 5 m | −6.2 °C | −10 °C | −12.4 °C (12 February 2012) | 5 out of 30 |
| Radinghem | 115 m | −6.7 °C | −12.5 °C | −14.6 °C (4 February 2012) | 10 out of 30 |
| Fiefs | 180 m | −7.1 °C | −12 °C | −14 °C (4 February 2012) | 9 out of 30 |
| Saulty | 174 m | −7.2 °C | −11.4 °C | −13.6 °C (1 January 1997) | 9 out of 30 |
| Lillers | 19 m | −7.3 °C | −14.5 °C | −16.3 °C (4 February 2012) | 7 out of 24 |
| Cambrai-Épinoy | 76 m | −7.7 °C | −13.1 °C | −13.4 °C (1 January 1997) | 11 out of 30 |
| Arras | 74 m | −7.9 °C | −12.4 °C | −14.7 °C (19 January 2024) | 8 out of 29 |
| Licques | 73 m | −8.1 °C | −14.5 °C | −14.5 °C (2 January 1997) | 10 out of 24 |
“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 4 February 2012, Lillers fell to −16.3 °C. On 19 January 2024, Arras recorded −14.7 °C. Even Boulogne-sur-Mer fell to −12.0 °C on 2 January 1997. 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 Pas-de-Calais
- Make the most of the coast. Near the sea, conditions are favourable: one winter in ten, Boulogne-sur-Mer stops at −8.6 °C, while Licques, about 25 km inland, falls to −14.5 °C. Choose your citrus according to the nearest station.
- Shelter them from the wind and the salt spray. On the coast, the salt-laden sea wind burns the leaves. Plant behind a hedge or a wall.
- Avoid hollows. Cold air flows down and collects at the bottom of valleys and in basins. Plant halfway up a slope or against a south-facing wall, never at the lowest point of the garden.
- Take care of drainage. The silty and clay soils inland compact and hold water in winter. In heavy or chalky soil, plant on a mound.
- Choose the rootstock for your soil. Here, cold comes first: Poncirus is the most resistant. 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 Calais?
No. Lemon trees withstand about −5 °C, and Calais falls to around −6 °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 the Pas-de-Calais?
The hardiest hybrids, such as citranges, withstand −15 °C: they spend the winter outdoors throughout the département. So do Yuzu and Yuzu 3 (−15 °C). The other yuzus (Yuzu 30, thornless, Tada Nishiki) withstand −12 °C: without protection on the Côte d'Opale, with a fleece inland. So do satsumas and kumquats. They are brought together in Hardy citrus.
What about orange trees and clementines?
Orange trees withstand about −8 °C, clementines −7 to −9 °C depending on the variety. On the Côte d'Opale, they can be grown in the ground with a fleece at each frost, against a south-facing wall. Inland, keep them in pots, brought 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. The further you go from the sea, the harder it freezes. 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).