Yes. yes clematis specialty nusery in ipswich mass.

Thanks Filix, I'll look up the name of the company in Ipswich, Mass online. Feel dumb asking but is the name of the company Clematis Specialty Nursery?

Thanks, Jimmy

Yup.

Jim, try to make a search in this forum. Similar questions were asked here many times. Check out this recent thread for example. All reputable vendors sell well rooted plants. I bought tiny clems in 2.5" pots from Bluestone Perrenials 3 months ago, 3 out of five bloomed for me. They were first year plants.

Purchasing older clematis isn't much of a plus. They still must establish their root system in the new location. You actually don't want flowers the first year planting a clematis if possible (although not a 'big deal'). The more energy going into root establishment produces more prolific bloomers later on. Like most perennials there is a fine line between a plant having large enough size to establish itself and being too large where the root system is stressed and the plant limps along.

Thanks everyone.

Jimmy

I would disagree with plantcompost. Many clematis require a year or so of root development so that they can survive well in the ground versus in a pot.

Some have few issues and I put in the ground when young (like the viticellas), but most I pot on for a year once purchased typically "young". This is after years and over 100 clematis, some of which died before getting established in the ground. This is especially true of type 2's.

You will have a huge advantage planting older plants, though you will pay for it. You will also have an advantage planting now in the late summer/fall versus spring.

The top three for me would be Joy Creek, Chalk Hill and Brushwood Nursery. Completely Clematis comes in as a strong fourth, though their website is not as well designed, I think, and their replacement policy not as easy. I believe they all sell 2 year plants. Planted now, next year would be their third year.

I agree completely with plantcompost. He reflects the info I've read in clematis books that also is in tune with our experience. A second year clematis is tops for quality and after that you're just paying for the sake of it. Neither plants with too developed root sytems or lots of above ground growth are desired.

The best rooted clematis plants I've ever bought were from Silver Star vinery. I'll be looking through their offerings again this winter for another spring shipment.

Gal plants bursting out of the pots with roots.

~Chills

I think some of the confusion is what is regarded as "3 year old plants". In general, clematis (and other vines) begin to show the best development and produce the best flowering their third year of establishment in the garden. I'm not sure there is any advantage to buying larger plants initially, as they will still need to go through a routine period of establishment after planting out that generally coincides with that 3 year period. There are always exceptions of course, but buying larger involves paying much higher shipping costs (if by mail) and risks damage to larger plants from shipping and transplanting. And often, smaller plants will adapt faster and put on as much growth as larger plants, easily catching up with their bigger, beefier brothers.

"And often, smaller plants will adapt faster and put on as much growth as larger plants, easily catching up with their bigger, beefier brothers."

That has been my experience. I plant a lot of 4" pots because they catch up to the gallons and are cheaper. Gallon Clems are around $15 here so my Clem purchases have all been gallons except for the Park sale but I always go for smaller plants if possible.

Clematis specialty nursery has 3 year plants. This spring they will be 4.

Silver Star Vinery is TOPS!! They are 3 year old plants and have huge root systems and not a pot full of "just" dirt like Completely Clematis. There are multiple stems in the pots instead of just one or 2 like the other vendors.