Variety fit — Iowa
Can I grow Satsuma plum in Iowa?
The verdict
Not recommended
- Your zone 5b is colder than this variety's hardiness range (zones 6–10); winter cold may damage or kill the tree.
Based on Iowa’s main growing area (50309): zone 5b, ~1,400 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.
The numbers
| Satsuma chill requirement | 300 chill hours |
|---|---|
| Satsuma hardiness | USDA zones 6–10 |
| Iowa average chill (50309) | 1,400 hours (1,194–1,671 across 10 winters) |
| Iowa zone (50309) | USDA zone 5b |
Better plum choices for Iowa
These meet Iowa’s chill hours and zone comfortably:
Keep checking
Or the same verdict for another region:
Questions
- Can I grow Satsuma plum in Iowa?
- Probably not — Your zone 5b is colder than this variety's hardiness range (zones 6–10); winter cold may damage or kill the tree.
Sources
- [1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
- [2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
- [3] Dave Wilson Nursery. Satsuma Plum — DWN Variety Finder — accessed July 2026
- [4] Dave Wilson Nursery. Satsuma — variety specifications — accessed October 2026