Citrus Trees You Can Grow in Houston

Homegrown citrus is one of the great rewards of gardening in the Houston area. Our mild winters and long hot summers are perfect for many citrus varieties — as long as you choose cold-hardy types and are prepared to protect them on the rare nights when temperatures drop hard.

Best citrus for the Houston area: Satsuma mandarins are the gold standard for our area — the most cold-hardy of all citrus and reliable producers even after light freezes. Meyer lemons are another excellent choice, producing abundantly and handling our climate well. Kumquats are among the hardiest citrus you can grow and make beautiful landscape trees. Grapefruits and navel oranges can also perform well in our area with proper placement.

Freeze protection: Houston averages only a few hard freezes per year but they do happen. Plant citrus in a protected south or southeast facing location near a wall or structure that radiates heat. Have frost cloth ready for temperatures below 28°F. Container-grown citrus can simply be moved indoors during hard freezes. It is imperative that the graft at the bottom of the tree needs protection from freeze. That way if the top freezes, the graft will be protected and the desired plant can regrow.

Houston citrus tip: Satsumas ripen in October and November — well ahead of Christmas — making them one of the most rewarding and reliable fruit trees you can plant in our area.