What does half-hardy perennial mean?

Answer 1

Good question. It's not a true botanical classification but here is an article I read that helps to solve the confusion: http://www.hrt.msu.edu/faculty/Runkle/June%202004.pdf

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Half Hardy Perennial

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What does half-hardy perennial mean?

Answer 4

It means they need protection from frost in Zones 5 & under to come back year after year. It those areas, most are dug up & brought indoors. "Tender or half-hardy perennials will survive a mild winter but may not survive a severe winter without protection."
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/perennials/text_winter.html
"Half-hardy Perennial (may not survive if between 10 and 0 degrees in winter)"
http://www.geocities.com/legacyherbs/plants.html

Here's an illustrated index of half-hardy perennials which includes Begonia, Canna, Lemon Grass, some types of Lobelia & Hollyhock etc:
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/list/half-hardy-perennials?SA=1372

Hope this is helpful.

Answer 5

Half-hardy perennials are tender perennials.
They will not survive frost and must be brought indoors during the winter, for example, pelargonium, fuchsia, and heliotrope. Individual microclimates and good free-draining soil can make an enormous difference to their ability to survive the winter. It means that they are a perennial plant that lives year to year in a warm climate, zone 9 for example, as opposed to an annual which lives to set seeds and dies.