Pic1

Pic 2

Pic 2

Blooms appear to be less sterile looking then a full flowered peegee but that may be age and the fact that its blooming cycle is messed up.

I would have expected more flopping and weak stems from a peegee; the stems were not noticeably red like some of the newer.

Tag

hard to make many observation on end of the season unlabeled big box stock .. dont you think ... is it half off or something ....

actually im surprised it looks as good as it does.. maybe it was a fall shipment ...????

ken

It does look great for this time of year so for 1/2 off I said …why not. If I can’t identify it, I can always return it; preference is the local nursery so there is no guess work. Still not sure why they can’t just label it properly; maybe it came from a lab or something ..don’t know!

"How do i know for sure this is paniculata ‘Grandiflora and not Phantom or some other?"

You don't :-) In many cases "pee gee" has just become a generic name for any H. paniculata, especially with less than prime quality wholesalers/growers.

I did manage to find a current availability list for Clinton Nurseries and none of the paniculatas they grow in tree form are 'Grandiflora'. You have a choice of Quick Fire, Pinky Winky or Limelight.

Your photo looks most like Pinky Winky to me.

Gardengal, great research and deductive reasoning!! Pinky winky is a keeper regardless :)
Can’t hurt to plant it and see right…

It does look great for this time of year so for 1/2 off I said …why not.

==>> exactly.. the bargain rules.. ken