Almost a year with the Juanita Tangerine. It is growing well. Once it has grown bigger plan to transplant it outside inground, St. George, UT. hope it survives the winters.

When driving south on I-15 Saint George, Utah is the first city you come to that has palm trees growing outside along the streets. From snowy Beaver, Utah to Saint George one drives down, down, down in elevation. You can actually see the temperate zones changing. However, a Juanita tangerine will have some difficult times surviving the winters in that area, unless it is planted in a very sheltered location, PLUS GIVEN EXTRA protection on cold nights. When one looks arount Saint George, citrus trees are not seen anywhere. This should tell you something. I will say this about the tree it self. Juanita Tangerine is an excellent citrus tree for beginners to grow. It is a hardy tree, fast growing, capable of taking a lot of abuse and mistakes that beginners make. I have a lot of citrus trees, some in the ground but mostly grown in root maker containers. Two varieties stand out as good, hardy, easy to grow, healthy, good fruit bearing trees and they are the Juanita Tangerine and the Valentia Orange. I recommend them both. - Millet

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Trying to make an area with a microclimate. In the pic the black like is were a brick wall has been constructed. The X marks the planed planting on the south side of the house. So the tree well be close to the house, in an area with wind protection on 3 ½ sides. On extreme cold nights may need to use extra protection (electricity from the house). I chose Juanita Tangerine because it is supposedly a cold hardy tree:

The Juanita Tangerine arose from a seed taken out of a supermarket tangerine by Juanita Barrineau and supposedly this tree survived the 0F freeze of 89 with limited die back. I’ve seen a picture of the original tree growing close to the house, so radiant heat must have helped. The fruit and tree resemble Dancy tangerine. The tree grows in an upright habit with few thorns. I my also add Ten Degree tangerine in the future.





I heard a rumor that there is an orange tree growing outside somewhere in St George. Supposedly there was an article in the local paper about it years ago. But have had no luck verifying this. Unfortunately!

I think you will find that you will need to give it major protection every winter. There trees can take brief dips to about 15 -17 F. If your climate is like this or below this most of the winter, and every winter they will not survive very long in the ground. Your location is listed as 8a so you may have a chance with protection.

Ten Degree tangerine is not very eatable if you ask me. Very sour.

Thanks for the concern. I do not expect it to be easy like Millet said “when one looks around Saint George, citrus trees are not seen anywhere.” I hope to have an exception to this. I think with the average temperatures I am okay, but the record lows is a problem.

In winter, temperatures frequently drop below freezing overnight (due to radiational cooling resulting from low humidity), but temperatures warm into the 50s°F (low 10s°C) during the day.

So the nights are going to be the major problem time.

The problem can also be temp fluxuations. A rapid drop in temp can kill the tree outright. Say you have a week with temps in the high 60's F then you have a quick drop to 10 - 12 F, that can kill the tree very quickly.

We have that problem here in the winter when we can have a few weeks in the 70 - 80 F range & then a quick drop to the high 20's F. It can damage the tree very quickly... Dropping to 10 - 12 F will outright kill the tree.

Lucky for us here, we very rarely have wide swings in temperatures, certainly not like the ones mentioned.
Nice Jaunita ... you could construct a wood framed enclosure that could have panels set in place in the event of cold weather on-set. Just a thought.

Cheers, Barrie.

The palm trees seen in Saint George, Utah are of a very hardy variety. The trees themselves, survive most winters, but the frowns are sometimes killed all the way back and must regrow anew in the spring. It is at these cold spells your tree will need heavy protection. Christmas lights under a blanket/tarp covering work pretty well. Good luck and welcome to the forum. It can be done in a 8a zone if proper caution is observed. - Millet

update

the Juanita Tangerine that i bought for my brother several years ago has finally been transplanted outside, in St George, UT. he has kept it indoors in a pot these last few years but finally created a spot in his backyard for it. the spot is somewhat protected and close to the house. this is going to be the first year out in the cold. hope it survives and thrives for him. I'll be visiting his place in a month. I'll update again in the spring and let everyone know if the cold killed the plant or not.