Strain Encyclopedia

Underground Originals created Honey Badger as a combination of Psychosis, which is a Northern Lights #5 x Haze hybrid, and UGORG #1. The top reported aromas of the Honey Badger strain are flowers and citrus. It is said to taste of lime, spices, and sugar.

Blueberry Skunk was created by the team at Flying Dutchman when they combined Skunk #1 with Blueberry. The cultivar preserves its parents' delicious blueberry flavors and pungent, skunky aromas, not to mention their heavy-hitting, sedating potency.

Tahoe Hydro OG is an award-winning strain that won the Jack Herer Cup for Best Indica Flower in 2016. A cross of Tahoe OG and OG #18, this hybrid has a lemony, diesel flavor. Lime and other citrus aromas are also present in this brainchild of the Tahoe Hydroponics Company. Tahoe Hydro OG contains very high concentrations of THC (up to 30%) and has worked on pain and nausea in some people. Seasoned cannabis users may be able to handle the supremely stoned and happy effects that Tahoe Hydro OG can produce.

The sativa-dominant Nevil’s Wreck from Rare Dankness Seeds crosses Arcata Trainwreck and Neville’s Haze in a spicy, floral fusion that lifts depression and sharpens the appetite. Nevil’s Wreck tends to exhibit uplifting, alert sativa effects, but some phenotypes may express more indica-like heaviness. This clone-only strain has an indoor flowering time that falls between 65 and 115 days and grows best with hydroponics, but novice growers might need more experience before undertaking this challenging sativa.

This Kush strain is a cross of Tahoe OG with Bubba Kush that delivers a knockout punch, according to the breeder. It has a strong Skunk scent and pungent taste. Due to its all-around super strength, Superman OG is not recommended for novice consumers.

The name "Blue God" evokes a powerfully effective strain, and that's precisely what was achieved when the team at Jordan of the Islands combined God Bud with Blueberry — legacy strains in their own rights. Blue God boasts a sweet, pungent aroma of blueberries with a matching berry, herbal flavor. This mostly indica plant won fourth place in the Cannabis Culture Tokers Bowl in 2012.

Stargazer was created by the breeder Dragons Flame Genetics, which crossed a traditional African sativa with a Bangi Haze in an attempt to develop a strain with an intense, sky-high effect and an earthy, citrus flavor profile. Dragons Flame Stargazer is not to be confused with Delta 9 Labs’ Star Gazer. Stargazer is said to grow tall and needs some trimming as it is also quite vigorous and flowers quickly. The cultivar is pest-resistant and ready to harvest in nine weeks indoors or early October if grown outdoors in the Northern Hemisphere, producing high yields of compact buds. Delta 9 Labs created its Star Gazer from three well-known strains – a Warlock female, AK-47 female, and Sensi Star male. The end result, apparently named for the best activity to do while enjoying the strain, has a flavor profile of pine and mint. According to the cannabis testing lab Cannalytic, one sample of Delta 9 Labs’ Star Gazer contained 17.5% THC and 0.5% CBD, while the breeder claims that the THC levels typically range between 16% to 17%.

SleeSkunk is an Amsterdam creation bred by the team at DNA Genetics. SleeSkunk combines SleeStack, a descendent of Super Skunk and White Widow, with the original Skunk #1 to create an ultra-stinky hybrid. Consumers confirm SleeSkunk's overwhelmingly skunky fragrance, mixed with lemon and earth that becomes more acrid upon smoking. The strain tastes of coffee blended with fresh loam and features a mild nuttiness.

While orange juice and cookies sound like an odd combination, the breeders at Franchise Genetics decided to try their luck on crossing the sweet Orange Juice strain with the THC-laden GSC (formerly known as Girl Scout Cookies). Thus, Orange Cookies first began pleasing consumers with its reported citrusy sweet aroma, due to a high limonene content, and matching sugary flavors. True Orange Cookies seeds are a rare find. If breeders manage to get their hands on an Orange Cookies clone, the short and stocky plant does best in an indoor environment.

Medicine Man is an Indica-dominant hybrid of Afghani, Brazilian, and south Indian landrace strains cultivated by Mr. Nice Seeds in Amsterdam. Originally cultivated under the name White Rhino at Green House Seed Company in the mid-1990s, the strain was given a new name when breeders Neville Schoenmakers, Scott Blakey (aka Shantibaba), and Howard Marks (aka Mr. Nice) left Green House and brought Medicine Man’s genetics with them.

Shishkaberry, also known as Shiskaberry or just Kish, has been attributed to several breeders, including Barney’s Farm and Spice of Life. Despite its mysterious origins, most sources agree that Shishkaberry is a cross between Blueberry (possibly DJ Short’s) and an Afghan indica. Shishkaberry is a renowned favorite of cannabis consumers, carrying what is often described as earthy, sweet, berry flavor profile. Shishkaberry won second place in Indica Seeds at the 2001 High Times’ Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam.

The Incredible Bulk has originated by the breeder Dr. Krippling Seeds, which mixed a trifecta of Big Bud, Super Skunk, and Green Spirit. Dr. Krippling Seeds claims that The Incredible Bulk is a indica-leaning hybrid that has between 20% to 24% THC.

Key Lime Pie is a phenotype of GSC (formerly Girl Scout Cookies) with two reported points of origin — Purple Caper Seeds and Burning Bush Nurseries, both located in California. Key Lime Pie from Burning Bush Nurseries is a phenotype of GSC with a unique candy-and-spice flavor. The iteration from Purple Caper Seeds is also said to have an aroma reminiscent of mint and lime, producing a relaxing and euphoric state upon consumption.

Blue Dream is a popular strain with various sources of origin. Below are several anecdotes about the strain's inception. The clone-only version of Blue Dream is a sativa-dominant hybrid that was first cultivated in Northern California. A cross of DJ Short’s Blueberry F5 strain and Santa Cruz Haze, Blue Dream produces several noteworthy phenotypes and is known to produce varied phenotypes with heavy yields. Blue Dream by Mystic Seeds is an indica-dominant cross of DJ Short’s Blueberry strain crossed with a powerful OG Kush from Los Angeles. A new Blue Dream by DJ Short was reportedly recently created and branded as Azure Haze, after crossing a Silver Haze mother and a Blueberry F4 father. Blue Dream by Humboldt Seed Organization is a sativa-dominant strain derived from feminized seeds. Created from a cross of Blueberry and Super Silver Haze (SSH), this version of Blue Dream is suitable for cultivating indoors or in a greenhouse.

Afghan Haze is a creation of breeders Scott Blakey (a.k.a, Shantibaba) and the late Nevile Schoenmakers, and currently cultivated by Blakey’s Mr. Nice Seeds in Amsterdam. This hybrid strain was bred by crossing an Afghani landrace with pollen from a Haze male with Thai and Columbian origins. Mr. Nice Seeds recommends Afghan Haze for medicinal use, noting that the strain tends to produce pain-relieving effects. Some users have reported a nutty, earthy aroma that translates into a flavor of herbaceous tea and skunk. One sample of Afghan Haze, analyzed by the cannabis testing laboratory Analytical 360, had a terpene profile with a heavy presence of alpha-pinene, limonene, and caryophyllene.

A legendary strain with an award-winning pedigree, Paris OG comes from Headband crossed with Lemon OG, according to online sources. The resulting plant has trichome-covered buds with a diesely, lemony taste and aroma. Effects are said to be uplifting and relaxing. Paris OG won the Michigan High Times’ Cannabis Cup in 2014.

Southern Lights was created by the team at Delta 9 Labs as a combination of an NYC Diesel mother and a Sensi Star father. The strain produces fluffy, tapered buds with curly leaves, vibrant green coloring, and a cloud of milky-white trichomes. Consumers of Southern Lights report a whiff of citrus, sugar, and a pungent layer of kimchi when its ground up or broken apart. Southern Lights reportedly tastes like a sweet and tart candy, mixing lemon with a creamy smoke.

Death Star is an Indica dominant cross between a Sensi Star father and a Sour Diesel mother. First bred in Ohio by “Team Death-Star” in the early 2000s, the strain has gained a reputation for its Sour Diesel flavor and compact growth structure.

Double Diesel is the offspring of the multiple-award-winning NYC Diesel and Sour Diesel strains, reportedly created by Southern Humboldt Seeds Collective (SoHum). This diesel double-down makes for a super-fuel flavor. However, this THC-heavy strain is said to also deliver sweet, earthy, citrusy tastes and aromas.

It took 10 years to perfect the lemon-berry/sour grape-taste of Querkle — a cross of a female Purple Urkle cut with pollen from a Space Queen cut — according to seed bank TGA Genetics. TGA co-founder Subcool initially bred the strain in a 4-by-6-foot closet in Oregon a decade ago after obtaining an exceptional Purple Urkle clone from a grower named Sticky Lungs. The goal with Querkle, as Subcool tells it, was to capsulize a purple Indica hybrid into seed form that could be used to create a purple line. At the time, he was working with several other purple clones -- including Mendocino Purps, GDP and Purple Skunk -- but preferred the Purple Urkle cut. Subcool bred Querkle to replicate the mother’s Purple Urkle grape flavor while speeding growth by adding a Space Queen male. Of five resulting phenotypes, TGA kept two for their medium-to-heavy yields, distinctive grape flavor, potent lemon scent and quick growth cycle. TGA advises that Querkle grows short and especially fast in soil -- and even faster in hydroponic systems -- with a flowering time of 56 days. The strain’s colas are spear-shaped with long orange hairs. Subcool said Querkle was originally bred and grown indoors, then later tested as a crop both indoors and outdoors. The strain can grow in either environment.

Buddha’s Sister is an indica-forward hybrid formerly known as Soma Skunk V+, renamed to enhance its appeal in the coffeeshops of Amsterdam. The strain, originating from Amsterdam’s Soma Seeds, is a cross of Afghani, Big Skunk Korean, and Hawaiian Super Skunk, another Indica-leaning hybrid. With that pedigree, and a first place finish for Indica during the 2008 IC420 Growers Cup as well as a second-place finish for Best Indica at the 2002 Cannabis Cup, Buddha’s Sister offers a powerful effect.

Sweet Cheese is a sativa-dominant strain bred by Sweet Seeds in Spain. The top reported aromas are a mild cheese scent with an undercurrent of sweet spice. The top reported flavors are similarly cheesy with a creamy mouthfeel and earthy undertones.

Neville’s Haze is a Sativa-dominant hybrid, named after Dutch breeder Neville Schoenmakers. The strain originates with two Haze phenotypes, Haze A and Haze C, which Schoenmakers reportedly obtained from the Haze brothers. Schoenmakers crossed Haze A with Northern Lights #5. The resulting hybrid, one of Schoenmakers most successful creations, would be crossed with the Haze C to create Neville’s Haze. Winner of first place in the seeds category at the 1998 High Times Cannabis Cup, Neville’s Haze is now carried by both Mr. Nice Seeds and Green House Seed Company.

Tembo Kush is the second of a Signature Series by BUDS Pasco, an indoor hydroponic farm in Washington. It is a sativa-dominant hybrid strain that combines genetics from Elephant, Durban Poison, and OG Kush. Derived from the Swahili word for “elephant,” Tembo Kush is influenced by its Elephant parent’s mammoth-sized buds, yields, and THC content. Durban Poison is an African sativa known for its sweet aroma, high-flying cerebral euphoria, and functional effects that keep you feeling productive, focused, and creative. OG Kush, famous among West Coast breeders for its stress-crushing euphoria, lends Tembo Kush dreamy, happy effects that keep bad moods at bay. Tembo Kush may be potent (with a THC content that can pass 22.5%), but it allows a degree of mental clarity that can be enjoyed any time of the day.

Blue Persuasion is the first of a Signature Series by BUDS Pasco, an indoor hydroponic farm in Washington. It is an indica-dominant hybrid strain composed of Blueberry, Northern Lights, and White Widow genetics. From Blueberry, Blue Persuasion inherits sweet berry flavors, relaxing and long-lasting euphoria, and a high THC potential. Its Northern Lights parent is cherished for its resinous buds, fast flowering, and resilience during growth, while White Widow contributes a tendency for heavy resin production and balanced hybrid effects. With a THC content that can stretch to 26%, Blue Persuasion is best saved for late night relaxation and introspection.

Tahoe Hydro Champagne is a complex sativa-dominant hybrid that challenges the palate while going easy on the body. With a refined melange of fruit, cheese, and floral undertones, this strain opens up like aged spirits and caresses the body with soothing effects. It is ideal for social gatherings, lending a conversational clarity to the mind and comforting relaxation to the body. Tahoe Hydro Champagne is a Jesus OG phenotype cultivated by Tahoe Hydroponic Company. 

Super Lemon Haze (SLH) is a Sativa-dominant hybrid that resulted from crossing a Lemon Skunk with Green House Seed Company’s Super Silver Haze. The winner of several awards -- including 1st Place at the 2008 and 2009 High Times Cannabis Cups -- Super Lemon Haze grows tall with long, dense branches of buds that turn white with crystal-like resin — especially in a highly controlled indoor environment. Super Lemon Haze was tested by Green House at 19.33% THC, 0.31% CBD and 1.15% CBN. The seed company reports the high CBN count was inherited from the strain’s Super Silver Haze parent.

Some say this strain has unknown origins but breeder Puffin Farm says it’s a mix of Big Bud, Skunk #1, and Korean genetics. Everyone seems to agree that Big Skunk Korean is hard to find but worth it, with large, purplish buds. It has a strong floral, skunky scent and harsh, woody taste, according to Puffin. The breeder reports uplifting, balanced effects.

AK-47 is an F1 hybrid from Dutch seed bank Serious Seeds. Created in 1992, its exact lineage remains secret, but seed bank owner and breeder Simon says it’s roughly a 65:35 Sativa/Indica hybrid of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Afghani descent. Serious Seeds carries both regular and feminized AK-47 seeds and reports a strong, fruity scent from the strain, coupled with a powerful, long-lasting “Indica” high. AK-47 has won 16 awards, including 1st Hash at the Barcelona High Life Cup in 2005, 1st Sativa at the Toronto Treating Yourself Expo in 2011 and 3rd Hybrid at the 2011 High Times Cannabis Cup.

Strawberry Kush is most often found as a clone-only cross between Strawberry Cough and OG Kush.

Area 51 is a strain of mysterious, contested origins. While many sources claim Area 51 is an accidental combination of Cannatonic and Alien Abduction bred in 2010, the breeders at North Genetics have their own version that combines Smurfberry with a Snowdawg x Romulan female. Consumer reports mention Area 51 features an earthy fragrance of pungent citrus and pine with floral notes. Its smoke leans more towards the lemony side with hints of earthy pine.

Purple Passion is an indica-dominant strain of unknown origins. The top reported aromas are sweet fruit with spicy herbs. The top reported flavors are candylike flowers and fruit with a spicy exhale.

Tangerine (not to be confused with Tangie, Tangerine Dream, or Tangerine Kush) is a backcross of CH9 Aroma created by the team at CH9 Female Seeds. This rare, discontinued strain descends from Jack Herer and a so-called Ed Rosenthal Super Bud, a blend of Afghani, Hindu, Mexican, Thai, and African landrace strains. Tangerine features a tropical fruit taste and distinctly tangerine aroma, according to the breeder.


Rare as a diamond, this strain is hard to find but reportedly worth the search. Black Diamond, a cross between Blackberry and Diamond OG, has trichome-covered buds with a purple tint and grape smell packing up to 26% THC and nearly 4% CBD, according to seed bank Bonza Seeds. It tastes earthy and sweet with a slight skunky odor, as expected given its lineage. Effects are uplifting then relaxing, even tending toward drowsy, according to Bonza.

Endless Sky is a dreamy indica-dominant strain from Dr. Greenthumb Seeds based out of Canada. The top reported aromas are blueberry and buttery scents. The top reported flavors are lemony, berry, and earthy notes, along with the signature buttery flavor reminiscent of blueberry pie.

Larry OG, also commonly known as Lemon Larry, is reportedly a cross of OG Kush and SFV OG, bred by California seed bank The Cali Connection.

Beyond The Brain was created by the team at Mandala Seeds and so-named due to its mind-blowing combination of flavor and aromas. Consumers claim Beyond The Brain has an herbal bouquet of mint, thyme, and mild spice. It’s flavor profile reportedly includes menthol mixed with pine.

Black Widow is an Indica-leaning hybrid of Brazilian and south Indian landraces that was originally cultivated by breeder Scott Blakey -- aka Shantibaba -- under the name White Widow. When Blakey and breeder Howard Marks -- aka Mr. Nice -- left Green House Seed Company in the late 1990s, they changed the name to Black Widow to distinguish their plant from White Widow strains sold by other seed banks.

A-Dub is said to be a potent strain with the legendary genetics of Sour Double, which is a cross of Sour Diesel and Sour Bubble, and Alien Dawg, a combination of Alien Technology and Chemdawg. According to several online sources, A-Dub has pale green buds covered with iconic red-orange hairs and glittery trichomes. It has a fruity, woody, spicy taste and strong sweet, earthy, sour aroma. Growing notes online suggest that A-Dub grows easily inside or out, delivering high yields during an eight-to-nine week flowering cycle. In 2014, High Times magazine named A-Dub the second-strongest strain on Earth, perhaps making it best left to experienced consumers.

A.M.S. is an all-Swiss combo created by Greenhouse Seeds in the Netherlands and named Anti-Mold System, or A.M.S. for short. (It’s also the Amsterdam Schiphol airport code.) The breeders crossed Swiss Fragolina with Swiss Gran Flora to get this strain that leans slightly sativa and resists most molds.   The top reported aromas of A.M.S. are sweet and grapefruit. And it is said to taste like extremely sweet citrus with a sour finish.

Straight A’s Haze was created by breeder Shaman Stinky Steve at Cereal Killer Genetics. It’s reportedly a phenotype of DelaHaze. Straight A’s Haze has a strong, pungent aroma of herbs, citrus, and spices. It’s said to taste sweetly similar.

Bred by Amsterdam’s T.H.Seeds, S.A.G.E. (or SAGE) is the result of crossing a Big Sur Holy mother with a male Afghani landrace. With a THC content testing above 20%, the breeder claims the strain tends to produce uplifting effects that energize the body and calm the mind. S.A.G.E. won 2nd Place in the Blind Test at the 2001 High Times Cannabis Cup.

Golden S.A.G.E. is a sativa-leaning strain bred by The Bank, which combined Golden Goat with S.A.G.E, a cross of Big Sur Holy and Afghani created by T.H. Seeds, to create this stinky and highly potent strain. Golden Goat met S.A.G.E. (Sativa-Afghani Genetic Equilibrium) and made a stinky, high-THC, large-nuggeted baby, according to breeder The Bank. The strain is said to have excellent resin production and a fruity, sweet flavor profile. According to The Bank, Golden S.A.G.E. carries the high THC content and flavor of its mother, S.A.G.E., which is said to taste of pine trees, sage, and sandalwood.