I have two successfull satsuma orange trees. One is a Mijo which I have had about 5 years, and the other is a Seto (or Cito) which will be producing it's second year soon, and is sprouting leaves just fine after some really cold winter days.

My question: Are there any other citrus that are cold tolerant? I have looked all through any TAMU stuff. I was especially interested in lemons or limes but it looks like those are even less cold tolerant than oranges.

Grapefruits are fairly hardy. Mine did well through the cold, but I'm in northeast Houston.

I saw an article in the Waco paper about an orange tree that does well in a Waco neighborhood.

I guess it was article worthy because orange trees are very rare in the Waco area.

Growing up, we had a pair of apple trees in Belton that produce for years until they caught some kind of blight or something and died. Fruit was too bitter to eat, but they produced good.

My grandparents also had a pear tree that eventually was struck by lightning and died but it produced edible fruit for a long time.

Not sure of the variety, but one of our neighbors has an orange tree that produces really good fruit here in Austin.

[This message has been edited by rather be fishing (edited 3/27/2014 1:24a).]

I've talked to locals (Navasota area) that claim they have pretty advanced aged Meyer lemon trees that have survived the winters for well over 2 decades and are still producing. We have a couple near our house that are making it through the last several winters (and we've never covered them).

Once they get a few years under em it'd take a bad freeze to kill them. Burn em back sure maybe every year without covering, but would probably live.

The two orange trees you have are probably as cold hardy as citrus comes.

Thanks for the replies.

During those coldest winter days, our Seto orange and a more cold hardy avocado (don't know the name) survived fine, but a lemon tree that was right in between them is very dead. All three trees are/were located in a semi-protected area on the southeast side of the house.

Some things I have read say that limes and lemons are generally less cold hardy than oranges. My wife has been successful with lemons in gigantic pots, but I was hoping to be able to plant something in the ground.

I've seen & eaten pears, figs, and persimmons grown in Brazos Co. Also wild grapes, made into jelly.

My stepmom has had success with Meyer lemons in Cuero and I'm tempted to take a stab at one here in New Braunfels.

Im from Caldwell county and we grew pears figs peaches and various berries out on the farm near the house.

Satsuma & key limes are in various locations in Gonzales co.

[This message has been edited by swcbonfire (edited 3/27/2014 11:39p).]

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I saw an article in the Waco paper about an orange tree that does well in a Waco neighborhood.

I guess it was article worthy because orange trees are very rare in the Waco area.

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http://www.wacotrib.com/news/north-waco-family-s-orange-tree-a-miracle-on-th/article_3928e5be-b811-52ef-8dee-465b5788e6ae.html