half-hardy

/ˌhɑːf ˈhɑːdi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhæf ˈhɑːrdi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhaf-ˈhär-dē ˈhäf-/ (ame, mw)

half-hardy — adjective

1. describes a plant that can live outdoors in cool spring or autumn weather but wi

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a plant that can live outdoors in cool spring or autumn weather but will be damaged or killed by frost, so it needs to be moved indoors or given protection when the temperature drops below freezing.

例句

Every autumn, Deepak moves his half-hardy fuchsias into the greenhouse before the first frost.

attributive use: half-hardy + noun

The gardener told Emma that her half-hardy geraniums would not survive a winter outside without protection.

同義詞
  • semi-hardy

    identical meaning; 'semi-hardy' is a less common alternative term used interchangeably in gardening guides

  • frost-tender

    similar scope but often implies even less cold tolerance; in practice many gardeners use the two terms for the same group of plants

反義詞
  • hardy

    opposite in the classification; hardy plants survive frost and freezing temperatures without any protection

  • tender

    opposite end of the scale; tender plants are damaged by any temperature near or below 10 °C

文法句型

half-hardy + noun (a half-hardy plant)

be + half-hardy (these flowers are half-hardy)

用法筆記

Part of a three-level gardening classification: hardy (survives frost and freezing), half-hardy (tolerates cool weather but damaged by frost), and tender (damaged by any temperature near freezing). In seed catalogues and gardening guides, half-hardy annuals are commonly sown indoors and planted out after the last frost.

常見錯誤

❌These flowers are half-hardy, so they will survive the snow.
✅These flowers are half-hardy, so they can survive cool autumn weather but must be protected from snow and frost.
💡Half-hardy plants do NOT survive deep freezing or snow cover; they only tolerate cool but non-freezing conditions.
❌This half-hardy plant can stay outside all year round.
✅This half-hardy plant can stay outside except when the temperature drops below freezing.
💡Half-hardy plants need protection or indoor shelter during winter frosts.