Thanks to the information and help I've received here, I have been pretty successful with my containerized meyer lemon and also have about 15 healthy key lime seedlings. However, after seeing the great landscape pictures from laaz, benny, joereal, etc., I'm extremely jealous . I was wondering if there were any citrus varieties that would be recommended for planting in ground in the Atlanta area? My zone is 7b. I am interested mostly in edibles but I've seen some amazing pictures of flying dragon (the curving nature of the branches and thorns look incredible, especially when it's lost its leaves) and would like to get some seeds of this to grow as well as I understand it is very cold hardy.

Brad you could try Satsuma mandarin in a sheltered location. Changsha mandarin should do well there but is very seedy. You may want to try Yuzu, Sudachi and even a Ponkan if you have a good micro climate. You may be able to get away with a Meyer on it's own roots if you have a place very sheltered. Any of the trifoliata & their hybrids will do well for you, but are not very edible...

Laaz,

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't aware that a satsuma might be cold hardy enough for this zone. They are very popular where I am originally from (Baton Rouge, LA) and they are probably my favorite among the (admittedly small number of) citrus I've tasted. I've heard good things about yuzu as well for cooking so that one may be of interest to me also. I'm really surprised about the meyer. I may have to root some cuttings and give them a try. I'd love to try growing a nice large tree in the yard.

I read about the edibility (or lack thereof) of the trifoliata so I don't plan on eating those. I think the flying dragon may look very nice as an ornamental (I believe it was you that posted a pic of one that had dropped its leaves that looked really nice) and would eventually provide potential rootstock for some dwarfs if I ever decide to try grafting.

Thanks again for the information.

Brad, perhaps you can try some Fortunella types and their hybrids, also in sheltered locations. Yuzuquats for example, they are very edible. Don't forget the Juanita tangerine also.

Yes I forgot about the Jauinta. Brad you should go to the expo next month, there are always loads of hardy trees for sale.

I just read something about the juanita tangerine today. I'll have to look into it some more. Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will check with the boss (wife ) to see if we can make it to the citrus expo this year. It looks like it is about 2 and a half hours south of here and I'd love to check it out.

Satsumas can be pretty cold hardy--my sisters Owari took a 17 degree freeze last yr with no protection and no damage. It had had time to cold harden--the real killers are the freezes that come early.

With a little supplemental protection you should be able to make it through the low teens with minimal damage.

Thanks for the info Skeeter. I've been here for 5 years now and haven't seen temperatures below 15 F yet, although it apparently has dropped lower a few times. I think I'll definitely try a satsuma and may look for one (or take a cutting from my uncle's tree) next time I'm back home for a visit.

Brad, I live in Buckhead and have had a large variety of citrus in the ground. Most climate data indicates now that the Atlanta area is solidly a zone 8a area, particularly areas within the perimeter. You'd be amazed at what you can grow here with no or minimal protection. Lows have been in the mid to upper teens during the winters. Here are some of what I am growing here in Atlanta:

-- Satsuma Mandarin -- These do fine in Atlanta. The fruits are among the most delicious citrus in my opinion.

-- Nippon Orangequat -- Hybrids between kumquats and an orange. Hardy easily down to 10 degrees. Fruits are delicious -- like large kumquats. Skin sweet and pulp tart.

-- Kumquats -- Meiwa and Nagami varieties do well for me. They flower and fruit and require no protection.

-- Citrumelo -- Fast growing citrus variety with tart but edible fruit.

-- Thomasville Citrangequat -- Hardy down to about 10 degrees. Delicious tart fruit.

-- Hardy Tangerine and 10 Degree Tangerine -- These have proven hardy and fast growing but they haven't yet flowered or fruited for me. I bought them at McKenzie Farms from "Stan the Citrusman" near Columbia, SC.

-- Kimbrough Tangerine -- I just planted this during the summer but it is growing well.

-- Chinotto Sour Orange -- Beautiful citrus with willow shaped leaves and extremely fragrant flowers. Totally hardy for me here in Atlanta.

Marginally hardy (for me at least) citrus (which I give minor protection during the coldest nights) includes:

-- Meyer Lemon -- Best tasting lemon in my opinion. Loses foliage below about 20 degrees.

-- Navel Orange -- I don't know how this has managed to survive the winters virtually unprotected but it has.

I have Flying Dragon and regular Poncirus and obviously those varieties are perfectly hardy here in Atlanta.

Also, Brad, consider going to the Hardy Palm and Subtropical website and look for a recent post by Tom McClendon of St. Mary's, Georgia, near the GA/FL state line. Tom's family also has a farm in Greene County, about an hour east of Atlanta, and he has a large variety of citrus that have thrived there unattended and unprotected for many years. Check out his recent post for some photos.

Alex,

Thanks for the reply. It's great to hear from a fellow citrus enthusiast in Atlanta and nice to know that someone has had success growing many of the varieties recommended in ground. I'm definitely planning to get a satsuma now (I agree about the flavor) and will now have to taste some of the Fortunella types as well to see which ones I like.

Once my meyer is a bit larger, I may also take a few cuttings to root and give that a try in a protected area as well.

Did you obtain many of your trees locally?

The fortunella types, it is the rinds that are sweet and edible, most of the flesh are very sour. Limequats and Calamondins are mainly used as condiments in food, alcoholic beverages, jams, marmalades, or as juices themselves. Kumquats, the rinds are eaten as soon as they develop those dark orange colors. The rinds are somewhat astringent at first, but then it sweetens in your month as you chew them finely. To remove some of the astringency, before you eat the rinds of the fruit, you roll them hard between the palms of your hand before you eat them. I would eat the fruit whole, carefully not to crush the seeds, then spit out the seeds, and chew flesh and rind together. It is very interesting play of sourness and sweetness.

JoeReal,

The complexities of flavors for the fortunella types sound very nice. Thanks for the information. I'll have to keep my eye out for some at the farmers market here. I have seen kumquats (not sure of the variety) at the local store but I'm not sure if we'd get any of the other fortunella types.

You're welcome Brad.

There are seedless types, with 0 seeds per fruit. One of the best ones is the Nordmann Seedless Nagami Kumquat.

The kumquat usually found in the grocery store is Nagami Kumquat (oval).