Cold-Hardy Yuzu
Yuzu ichandrin
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Yuzu Ichandrin is not a lemon. This is something older and considerably more interesting, a naturally occurring hybrid between Ichang papeda, Citrus ichangensis, and Satsuma mandarin, long cultivated across the high-elevation citrus regions of China and Japan, and among the most cold-hardy citrus in existence. Where standard yuzu, Citrus junos, and true lemons would surrender to a Southern winter, Ichandrin holds. Mature, established trees have come through ten degrees Fahrenheit with nothing worse than tip dieback. This is, by any honest measure, the citrus a zone 7 or 8 gardener actually gets to keep.
The tree is upright and moderately vigorous, with glossy evergreen foliage and the formidable thorns of the papeda parentage, so wear gloves when you prune, and take that seriously. Fragrant white flowers open in spring. The fruit ripens in late autumn, turning from green to deep gold, roughly mandarin-sized, thick-skinned and bumpy, and full of seeds. This is not a fruit to eat out of hand.
What Yuzu Ichandrin produces is rind and juice of a quality with no real substitute. The aroma is floral, bright, faintly piney, somewhere between lemon, grapefruit, and something with no name in English. Juice and zest are foundational to Japanese and Korean cooking: ponzu, yuzu kosho, dressings, cures, desserts. The zest freezes exceptionally well, which matters, because the harvest window is short and every gram is worth keeping. Our trees are grafted onto trifoliate rootstock for maximum cold hardiness and a quicker path to fruiting, so expect fruit in two to three years from a grafted plant rather than the decade a seedling demands.
Plant in full sun with well-drained, slightly acidic soil, pH 5.8 to 6.5. In zone 7, site against a south-facing wall and give the tree the first two winters in a container before committing to the ground; zone 8 and warmer can plant straight out. Fertilize three times a year, in late winter, mid-spring, and mid-summer, and never in autumn, which pushes tender growth into cold the tree cannot handle.
By federal citrus quarantine, we cannot ship citrus to Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, or Texas.
Yuzu Ichandrin is the citrus for gardeners who assumed citrus was simply not for them. As things turn out, the question was only ever which one.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 8–10
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, Acid
- Mature size
- Height 15–20 Feet · Spread 12–15 Feet
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Seasonality
- Evergreen
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.