Non-Gardener builds an Observatory, Garden Railway and even Dabbles with Plants!

The Geraniums pictured in Sheal's post above are what are commonly called 'Hardy Geraniums' - ie they're perennials, and jolly good plants for all sorts of situations, not minding being in sun or part-shade. You just cut them back at the end of the season and leave them much to their own devices. They can be split to make new plants, too. Loads of varieties in the blue/pink/ white range.

The Pelargoniums are the annual or biennial 'geraniums', generally grown as indoor pot plants, or outside as annual bedding....where they're not likely to flourish, once the flowering season is over. Reds, burgundies, sugar pink, salmon pink, white, peach and orange shades. The 'half hardy perennial' wording on your packet is very misleading, in my view.

They're constantly being confused, one with the other. No thanks to the seed-sellers.

 

I have grown those Pelargoniums and Bedding Begonias from seed. They need warmth and light and have to be sown quite early as they are slow to get going, especially the begonias.

The half hardy perennial Pelargoniums are perennial if you dig them up and overwinter them in a cool room indoors. I used to take cuttings from them. They grow easily from cuttings.

 

I think half-hardy perennial is useful as long as you know what half-hardy means. Perennial would indicate that you can keep it going if you overwinter it somewhere frost-free. Fuchsias, pelargoniums, and pretty much everything that we grow as houseplants are either half-hardy perennials or tender perennials. It would be misleading to call them annuals.

 

Most seed packets and plants have H.A / H.P / H.H.A / H.H.P / H.B or H.H.B rating, its not difficult to understand.
Half hardy in all cases just means protect from frost.