If you cover when temps fall below freezing they may survive. Mine have tried to bud for spring and I am sure I will be covering when temps are low. Best to wait though before planting in this cold soil. When the new growth is burnt by cold, Clematis seem to take twice as long to recover, and like some Hydrangeas the bloom is much reduced.

But it does make me want to take a field trip to Lowes!

Pot them up and put them in the garage until it warms up.

My bride and I went to Lowes to look at them tonight. Jackmandii and Nelly Moser were the two we saw. There was a lot of stuff. Lilies, cannas, lots. Even little coryopsis plants for 2.75.

But it just seems a little too early for even me. BTW, Wal-Mart and HD landscape supply have stuff as well. It's amazing when you go into the landscape supply on Feb. 8 and see their growing collection of perennials.