you might get better info.. if you convert to a full latin name.. as most learned of information.. comes from peeps who use it solely ...

MANY things that we in the north call annuals... that die over winter ... are actually perennials in there native area... warmer areas ...

if you are relying on zone only ... to intuit such ... you are going to be baffled.. as you are ...

so your base question for Chrysanthemum carinatum Bright Eyes is how winter hardy ... C. carinatum's roots are ... it really doenst matter if you are asking about the specific cultivar bright eyes ... or group in this case ..

what you want to know.. is how far north C. carinatum roots are winter hardy .. in your zone ..

and when you get any answers.. immediately ask yoruself... where is the repliers response coming from ... zone wise ...

z5 ... as you list yourself... is extremely large.. and diverse ... there are a whole host of things that my friends in z5 st loius... grow as perennials... that i can not grow in z5 MI ...

i learned how it all works.. pre WWW... by simply planting things i liked.. and if they didnt come back.. a tried again ... and if failure again.. i declared it an annual.. and not worth my while ....

never forget.. you are not a true green thumb.. until you have killed every plant 3 times... and during all that killing.. you learn a lot of things ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: llink

Annual.

Curious, in that it is an annual then why would it be rated for zones 3 - 9?

I guess I can understand an upper limit as it might not tolerate heat but the lower? I have seen ratings as "Either way, I will wait until spring to set the seed and see if it returns the following spring.

Thanks.

For the most part Chrysanthemums are considered a perennial, though those in the northernmost climates may consider it an annual. Chrysanthemums are quite hardy and with the proper care, once well established, can survive just about anything. I found some really good articles on choosing and growing mums which should also answer some of your questions. This same site also sells mums, with individualized information on a myriad of different varieties, but I think the articles will be valuable to you. Hope this helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: Articles in Mums

The plant in question is no longer classified as a Chrysanthemum afaik. It now appears to be Ismelia carinata. Even when classified as a Chrysanthemum it was not very similar to the popular perennial 'mums'. It is a true annual and information on perennial 'mums' doesn't apply to the OP's plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Annual chrysanthemum

Many annual seeds list zones. They do it to show who has a summer is long enough for them.

tj