Same Name, Different Seeds? A Collector’s Guide
Short answer: No. Two seed packs can share a strain name without being the same genetic line. The name may describe a family or inspiration, while the breeder or supplier, parent selections, seed format and documentation differ. For a collector, the exact listing and provenance matter more than the headline name alone.
Skyline’s current catalogue makes this question tangible: it carries two Moby Dick photoperiod listings from different suppliers and two Wedding Cake Auto listings from different suppliers. This guide shows how to read those differences without treating a product description as a DNA certificate. All examples below reflect the live catalogue checked on 28 September 2026; listings can change.
Why can two packs carry the same strain name?
Strain names are useful search terms, but they are not a universal genetic barcode. Breeders may work from different parent selections, create their own version of a familiar line, or make an autoflowering adaptation. A supplier may also source and package a line under a familiar name. Even when the stated parents match, the pack descriptions do not establish that the underlying selections or generations are identical.
Think of a name as the first question, not the final answer. Ask: Who is responsible for this particular pack? What parentage is stated? Is it photoperiod or autoflowering? What is actually documented? If an answer is missing, mark it as unknown instead of filling the gap with an assumption.
- Shared name: useful for finding related listings, not a guarantee of equivalence.
- Stated lineage: a supplier’s description of parentage; it may be broad rather than a full pedigree.
- Seed format: photoperiod, autoflowering, feminised or regular are separate descriptors. One does not prove another.
- Supplier identity: breeder-branded and sourced-and-repacked packs should be described accurately, without assuming one is inherently better.
A real Skyline example: two Moby Dick listings
Both current photoperiod listings name Haze and White Widow as the parent lines. Beyond that shared description, they are separate catalogue items and make different claims. Read the listings side by side rather than averaging their numbers.
| Detail | Green House Seed Co. | Skyline Seeds range |
|---|---|---|
| Listing | Moby Dick | Moby Dick |
| Source as stated | Green House Seed Co. | EU-import stock sourced and repackaged under Skyline Seeds |
| Stated parents | Haze × White Widow | Haze × White Widow |
| Format | Feminised photoperiod | Feminised photoperiod |
| Listed pack options | 3 or 5 seeds | 1, 3 or 5 seeds |
The shared parent names do not prove the packs are genetically identical. Nor should the different potency, timing or yield figures in their listings be read as a controlled side-by-side test. Those are supplier claims made under different assumptions, not comparable laboratory results. For a collection centred on breeder attribution, choose the named breeder pack; for a collection organised around accessible pack sizes, inspect the Skyline listing’s selected variant and sourcing description. Neither choice needs an invented quality ranking.
When the suffix changes the question: Wedding Cake Auto
“Auto” is not decorative wording. It identifies an autoflowering format, and two auto versions with the same familiar base name can still have different documented breeding histories. Skyline currently lists Barney’s Farm Wedding Cake Auto as Wedding Cake × BF Super Auto #1. Its separate Skyline Seeds Wedding Cake Auto listing describes sourced-and-repacked EU-import stock and gives Girl Scout Cookies × Cherry Pie as its stated genetics. Those descriptions are not interchangeable; the latter does not provide a full account of its autoflower conversion.
For collectors, this is a useful distinction: a base strain’s family story is not automatically the complete pedigree of every “Auto”, “FAST” or other named version. Read the precise product page, then preserve its source and wording with the pack.
Want the broader terminology first? Skyline’s autoflowering versus photoperiod guide explains the format distinction; its F1 hybrids guide covers another label that is often misread.
A five-point checklist before adding a pack to your collection
- Record the full title and suffix. “Moby Dick”, “Moby Dick Auto” and “Original Moby Dick Auto” are different listings, not shorthand for one item.
- Capture the named supplier or breeder. If the pack is sourced and repackaged, note that honestly rather than assigning an unverified original breeder.
- Copy the stated parentage verbatim. “Haze × White Widow” is useful, but it may not identify exact parental selections.
- Separate format from family name. Feminised, regular, photoperiod and autoflowering answer different questions; see Skyline’s feminised versus regular guide if those terms are new.
- Keep the original packaging and a dated record. A screenshot or order record can preserve the description as it appeared when you acquired the pack. Do not infer a batch number or authentication method where none is shown.
Browse the current cannabis seed collection to compare exact listings. For format-based browsing, the autoflowering collection and photoperiod collection are useful starting points. Stock and variants may change, so verify the product page before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Does the same strain name mean the seeds are identical?
No. A shared name is a starting point, not proof that two packs have the same breeder, parent selections, seed format or documented lineage. Compare the individual listings.
Are the two Moby Dick listings at Skyline the same genetics?
Both current photoperiod listings describe Haze × White Widow parentage, but they name different suppliers and make different product claims. The listings alone do not establish genetic identity.
Is Wedding Cake Auto the same as Wedding Cake?
Not necessarily. An autoflower version adds a different breeding history. Check the specific breeder or supplier and the stated parentage for each pack.
What should a collector record?
Keep the original pack, supplier or breeder name, exact product title, seed format, pack size, date and the listing or batch details available at purchase.
Skyline Seed Bank sells cannabis seeds for novelty, souvenir and genetic-preservation purposes only. This article is a collector’s reference, not cultivation or legal advice. Customers are responsible for complying with applicable laws.
