Can Mums be planted and survive the winter? We live in a Zone 5a

Yes they are hardy for your zone

not likely in your zone

Absolutely, put them in the ground now...mark where they are as they will be later coming up in the spring and will gradually grow in size throughout the summer.

btw...I live in zone 5/5b and have done this successfully for years

i live in zone 5 and my hardy garden mums do come back each spring. the trick is to get a hardy garden mum. the pop up garden centers don't usually carry them, go to a dedicated garden center, or a master gardeners plant sale.

My sister is a florist and put me on to why my mums weren't coming back then next year. When you buy a mum, be sure it say's hardy on its lable. Since she told me this, each year I buy a mum and after cutting back the dead stems at their end of their season they come back in their spring. They only place I have found them is Jay C grocery.