How do I know which delph or datura or columbine I have?

When I started gardening, it was "just" a delp or "just" a columbine, but now I want to trade plants and seeds so I need to become more than "just" a generic gardener. If I cross reference my delph to a picture on the net, and it looks EXACTLY like the picture, do I now know for sure that is the one I have? I would hate to tell someone I have such-n-such and it isn't. A lot of my plants were obtained through trades without names so asking the trader may not even help me.

Errrmmm no not really. Many times I have (and I'm sure others have found the same) grown seedlings which look like one parent but whose siblings look like another. Columbines are one of the most promiscuous plants I've ever come across. While it will have the gene which makes the majority of its seedlings look like ... lets say Nora Barlow...it by no means is Nora Barlow. It will carry the genes of the other parent and may throw a lot of offspring which look like either both or something completely different.

You can't competely trust the seed merchants either, I've had several packets which have a picture of one plant and is actually another (admittedly in the same species). I've come across a web site which sells Digitalis parviflora, it isn't D. pasrviflora but D. viridiflora, trouble is many places (including another forum site) have linked with this site.

Where there is open polination and confusion you will always get this. The only hope is that you grow something that your neighbours don't and isn't related to anything else in the garden LOL. Tricky isn't it!

Not putting you off here, I like to receive unusual seeds which I then spend a summer identifying. Sometimes you find something really special which is misnamed.

I guess it depends on how 'purist' you are. Some people just like a nice blue Delphinium others like a particular species for their collection. Its really only a question of scale.

ok, Baa, where do you go to ID your plants. This is getting to be serious business, so I may as well know all the secrets.

Books books and more books...and a little bit of experience (I won't mention how many years in my case LOL). It helps to know a relative of what you are looking up since it can be a tricky business trying to find something you have no clue about, even the most experienced people find this.

Its a learning process which must be enjoyable because once you have lost the enjoyment theres no point. Do you have open gardens near you or near by gardening groups? People are a great source of info and love to talk about their plants. We have a great scheme here where garden open for charity during february and october, stunning gardens and you get to meet people with almost encyclopedic knowledge on their particular plants.

The best 2 books and constant companions of mine are the A-Z encylclopedia of garden flowers (RHS) and a battered European wildflower identification book (or any wildflower identification book will do). Seed catalogues are a great place to start, especially the ones with botanical names. Chiltern seeds has been an education in itself!

Of course you can always ask here at Daves.....