The foliage looks perfectly healthy so I doubt wilt is the issue....more likely to be a case of improper watering (perhaps at the nursery). Both over-watering and under-watering can produce similar symptoms, including a wilted appearance, and flower buds tend to be the first to display. However, I might still wait to plant to see how the vine does in the next week or so.

There are several theories about clematis wilt...the first being that few garden plants actually have a true fungal wilt but rather just outgrow the ability for their root system to support them. The appearance of either is virtually identical and would require a pathologist to differentate. In either case, wilt is not permament/fatal and most vines will outgrow it with age and better establishment. At least half of my collection of clematis vines at my old garden were nursery "wilt" returns :-)

btw, planting 2' deeper would be the minimum depth I would consider.....generally 4-6 inches deeper than it is in the nursery container is recommended. And this is to encourage both more basal stemming as well as encouraging a healthier and bigger root system better able to support that very vigorous top growth.

Sorry callirhow123, I am learning my way around here. Did not mean to be so abrupt with the thank you. gardengal48 thank you also. I love clematis and decided to try my hand at them so I am now wondering. Should I cut off the vine that is wilted or leave the plant alone (other than watering) and wait for the ground to dry out before planting it?

I would wait.....both for the ground to dry out sufficiently to plant and to see if the vine develops further symptoms. If it does, just cut back hard and plant deeply in a large, well-prepared planting hole and treat exactly the same as if it were a flourishing vine. In most cases, the vine will respond with new growth later this season or next. I have even had them reappear after a couple of seasons of non-active growth :-)

Don't see any abrupt thank you, but plant it deep and hope for the best.

Thank you so much for all your help. I'm envious of you guys being able to grow these beautiful plants. I had hopes of purchasing several other varieties of clematis but I think I will wait and see what happens with this one. Maybe the plant fairy will bless me! Thanks again callirhoe123 and gardengal48...

Plants in group B (aka group 2) tend to be a bit more challenging than the summer blooming clematis, type C aka type 3. So if you get a type 3/C plant IME I have had few issues.