A question: Your name display says Virginia zone 7A, but in your title you say zone 8. Could you clarify a little bit more?

My winter here in Cincinnati was a zone 8 winter with the low of 10f in november and 11f in february.

Steve

Socal, we are zone 7a but had a very mild winter. I think our lowest winter temp was around 16 degrees.

I have several hardy citrus varieties in Olympia, WA, zone 8a, that made it through this winter very well. The ones with the healthiest looking leaves are Yuzu and Tai-tri (taiwanica x trifoliate).

However, due to the cooler climate here, they will not put on as much growth as where you are.

I'm really not all that much suprized that a 852 Citradarin planted near the house survived well through a zone 8 witer, It would be expected to under all these conditions.

Silica, yes, that was actually a joke. Zone 8 is not a challenge for it. But a typical zone 7A is a challenge for sure.

Would I have to put a young (1 foot) citrandarin tree in a heated green house in winter?

It would help and might save its life.