Wait for the nurseries to stock. Just about everyone had it last year.

Can you please tell me which nurseries? I called so many today and they all said they don't carry it.
I called Miele's in CLark, Williams Nursery in Westfield, Dearborn Farms & Casola Farms in Holmdel, Parkers in Scotch Plains, Bartons and Coppolas in Edison and Raising Up in Avenal.
I was thinking I should order on line.

I am North of you. The nurseries aren't stocked here yet so I couldn't tell you who would have it this year yet but I will look out for it.
How far are you from Ambleside Nursery mentioned in this post I linked to below? You might try them.

Online, Big Dipper Farm has it in stock. I did receive an order from them this year. They arrived a little early but the roots were a good size and they included a little thank you plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: My nursery tour in Somerset County

I did see it today at Gro Rite in Lincoln Park if you haven't found it yet. There were two sizes, one about $22 and the other about $34. Many of them were mislabeled so it would be good to see it in bloom - it's not yet. Bet you can find it closer.

Cezanne is being sold at the A&P in Pompton Plains, 19.99.

I just purchased Polish Spirit at Home Depot (in Clifton) for 19.99. It was a nice size growing up a small trellis.

just saw small 4-in pots of polish spirits at walmart on rte 22 in watchung for $5.49. and quite a few of them are still alive. will take them two years to get to size but at that price you could always buy a couple.

also call bardy farms in warren (www.bardyfarms.com) and ask them if they have polish spirit clematis there. they grow their own and these are selling right now for $6 for a nice mature gallon size pot. i just got three there.

also call great swamp nursery, 553 New Vernon Rd, Gillette, NJ P: 908-647-3725, i might have seen polish spirit there but not sure.

if none of those local options work, you can check out the good online sources for clematis. sales are probably hitting the web soon. listed in order from small younger clematis in 4-in pots to mature gallon-size root-balls (but all these sources are reliable).

www.donahuesclematis.com
www.bluestoneperennials.com (sources from donahue's)
www.brushwoodnursery.com
www.chalkhillclematis.com
www.silverstarvinery.com

i think polish spirit would be a great choice (although i don't have it myself). it is a viticella type which is vigorous, not prone to wilt, free-flowering and great for beginners. note that it blooms on current year growth and you should prune it to within a foot of the ground every spring to prevent legginess and flowering only at the top of the vine.

raymond evison clematis are clematis specially bred to be compact and to bloom readily from young vines. since they are patented they tend to be more expensive. some people love them. i personally don't have any of them among my 30 odd clematis, but i'm not done with my clematis craze yet!

good luck and do holler if you have questions. i would love for more NJ gardeners to join the clematis club.

PS is a rather muddy purple in my garden and honestly I wish I hadn't planted it (the label at NJBG said it would be red) but its health and behavior are impeccable. It grows through the azaleas and shows up every summer with no pruning or care, neither overvigorous like a jackmanii might be, nor fading away like the davidiana.

Kitova, do you know where I might find Roguchi locally?

Cat, Bluestones doesn't have PS but they do have a good selection and very reasonable prices, and an excellent reputation.

hi birdgardner, no i haven't seen roguchi anywhere, if you find it in NJ let me know! i figured that roguchi is one of those rarer ones you can only find at specialist online clematis retailers.

I love polish spirit. It is a great bloomer for with an amazing inital flush. I don't find it to be a muddy violet at all.

http://home.earthlink.net/~mledwards/polish_spirit.htm

I purchased mine four seasons ago at a Home Depot in Flemington.

I would try Brushwood Nursery online. They are located in Chester County, PA. I don't know if they are open to the public. I think if you buy two plants, shipping is free. I ordered two clematis a few weeks ago and received two really nice plants.

I ordered Rooguchi from Gardens Crossing this year. Silver Star had it but it is Out of Stock now.