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Winter-hardy

adj.resilient, hopefulprofessional

What it means

Strong enough to thrive through cold winter conditions.

Reach for it when describing a plant or organism able to survive the relevant winter conditions

Winter-hardy greens supplied the kitchen through several frosts.

Choose between these

6
  • playful

    winterproof

    strong seasonal protection is claimed informally

    not when Winterproof sounds absolute and lacks a standard.

  • everyday

    hardy

    general environmental toughness is enough

    not when Hardy does not specify winter.

  • warm

    resilient

    recovery after seasonal stress is emphasized

    not when Resilience may follow damage rather than prevent it.

  • professional

    cold-tolerant

    a stated low-temperature range is endured

    not when Tolerance can involve damage short of death.

  • professional

    frost-hardy

    survival of freezing temperatures is tested

    not when Frost hardiness may not cover months of cold.

  • formal

    overwintering

    survival or maintenance through winter is the process

    not when Overwintering describes behavior, not inherent hardiness.

Said against

3
  • frost-tender
  • cold-sensitive
  • winter-killed

It naturally appears in

3
  • winter-hardy variety

    The winter-hardy variety survived three nights below minus fifteen.

  • reliably winter-hardy

    This shrub is reliably winter-hardy only in sheltered soil.

  • winter-hardy roots

    Winter-hardy roots sent up new shoots after the exposed stems died.

Where this comes from

Winter hardiness depends on temperature, duration, wind, soil, moisture, and acclimation; name the hardiness zone or tested minimum.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.