half-hardy

[haf-hahr-dee, hahf-]

adjective

Horticulture.

1. having moderate resistance to cold temperatures.

half-hardy

adjective

1. (of a cultivated plant) able to survive out of doors except during severe frost

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-hardy¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Tender and half-hardy decorative salvias, such as Mexican bush sage, pineapple sage and little-leaf sage, make great container specimens all the way to October.

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“You can start seeds, care for seedlings, push spring and fall, overwinter half-hardy plants like Syrian and Greek oregano or even my artichokes, and force pots of flower bulbs,” she said.

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Tender and half-hardy salvias bloom from June to October and attract all kinds of pollinators.

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All these goldenrods would pair nicely with ornamental grasses such as pink muhly grass, blue grama grass or switch grasses, along with half-hardy and tender ornamental sages.

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Now that it is summer here, our UK nurseries are offering young plants for bedding, and many of them are annual or half-hardy perennials.

Read more on The Guardian