Satsuma mandarin
Citrus unshiu
One of the cold-hardiest citrus; ripens before hard freezes.
Hardiness: zones 8 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 12 ft tall, 10 ft wide
Harvest: October to December
From: Japan
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Hardy in zones 8 to 11.
The story
Satsumas came to Japan from China some 400 years ago and were named for the Satsuma province that shipped them west. Seedless, easy-peel and hardier than any other mandarin, they let the Gulf Coast grow citrus and survived Japan's cold winters in the same tree.
Planting
Full sun and drained soil; it takes frost to about 15°F once established, so it is the citrus for borderline places. Self-fertile and compact.
Growing
Water steadily in summer, feed lightly three times a year, and prune only to remove dead wood. Keep the trunk clear of mulch.
Harvest and use
Ripens in late autumn, often while the peel is still greenish. Clip rather than pull, and eat within a few weeks; the loose skin does not keep.
What to watch for
Scale, leafminer on new flushes, and a sudden hard freeze while the fruit hangs.
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home