Landrace cannabis strains originate from remote regions of the world. By adapting to unique growing conditions, landrace weed varieties developed unique genetic traits that laid down the groundwork for countless world-famous hybrids.
Amnesia, Northern Lights, and Skunk – the cannabis world is rich with unique strains carefully created at the hands of passionate breeders. The genetic backbones of many of these renowned cannabis varieties, however, came from landrace strains native to distinct parts of the world.
So what is it that earned landrace strains their place as the favourite breeding stock of so many cannabis geneticists? Join us as we explore cannabis landraces and everything that makes them so special.
What are landrace strains?
‘Landrace cannabis’ refers to varieties of weed that are native to specific areas of the world.
Archaeological evidence shows that humans have been cultivating cannabis for thousands of years. In fact, some argue that weed might well be one of mankind’s first domesticated plants. Despite originating from Asia, its importance as a crop led weed to quickly spread to the far corners of the globe alongside humans.
Today, cannabis grows on six out of seven continents. And though the international market for cannabis seeds is now rife with all kinds of different hybrids, some parts of the world still house landrace weed strains that, sometimes for thousands of years, have grown in and adapted to their local regions.
Related post
Where does landrace cannabis come from?
Landrace cannabis strains stem from Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis – three subspecies of cannabis with very unique traits.
While the origin and taxonomy of cannabis is still murky and highly debated, it is generally accepted that:
- Cannabis sativa plants originate from warmer, more tropical climates, and in turn have larger, wispier flowers and longer flowering times. Landrace sativas have been found in The Americas, Africa, and Asia.
- Cannabis indica plants, on the other hand, originate from cooler climates, and in turn developed shorter flowering times, tighter buds, and a bushier structure. Landrace indicas come from Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, from areas like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, for example.
- Cannabis ruderalis plants originate from central and eastern Europe as well as Russia. They have developed a shorter stature and lower THC concentrations than their sativa and indica cousins, as well as a unique “autoflowering” gene.
Learn more about the origins and differences of cannabis subspecies in our article on the indica vs. sativa debate.
Does landrace weed still exist today?
True landrace cannabis, though rare, still grows in many parts of the world. Some regions where landrace cannabis may still exist include:
- Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Africa (particularly South and East Africa)
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Panama
Unlike modern hybrids, landrace strains aren’t created by breeders and therefore don’t have fancy names. Instead, landrace weed is usually just named after the region it’s from – Mexican, Thai, Afghan, etc.
In countries like Afghanistan, which is rife with landrace cannabis, plants might be named after the province or city they’re grown in, such as Kabul, for example.
Related post
The history of landrace genetics in modern cannabis breeding
Thousands of cannabis strains are already on the market today, and breeders continue bringing new strains to life on the daily. The legalisation of cannabis across North America, in particular, has recently given rise to a huge demand for US genetics stemming from modern genetic lines like Cookies, Runtz, OG, and Gelato. Many of these strains, however, can be traced back to landrace varieties from far corners of the world.
GSC (also known as Girl Scout Cookies), for example, is a beloved Californian strain bred from a cross of OG Kush and Durban Poison, a pure sativa stemming from landrace cannabis native to the coastal city of Durban in South Africa.
OG Kush, a predecessor to Cookies and a world-famous hybrid in its own right, is also rumoured to descend from a mix of landrace cannabis strains originating from Northern California, Thailand, and the Hindu Kush mountain range. In fact, arguably all current cannabis strains could be traced back to landrace varieties from regions like those mentioned above.
Now considered legendary breeders, daring individuals like Shantibaba, Nevil Schoenmakers, DJ Short, Franco Loja, Sam the Skunkman, Soma, and Sensi Seeds founder Ben Dronkers scoured the world for cannabis seeds long before the era of modern seedbanks (which Schoenmakers and Dronkers later played a central role in developing in the early 1980s).
Many of these breeders used landrace seeds they acquired during their travels through Asia, Africa, and The Americas to create classic strains like Amnesia, Haze, Northern Lights, Blueberry, White Widow, and Skunk, which in turn set the genetic foundations for most (if not all) of the hybrids currently on the market.
What makes cannabis landrace strains so special?
Landrace cannabis strains didn’t just have a “moment” back in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s – they are still highly sought-after even by modern breeders, growers, and smokers. But why?
The answer lies in their genetics. Today’s cannabis market is saturated with strains that, although unique, share a lot of their genetics. Landrace strains, however, have been growing in isolation for hundreds or even thousands of years, and therefore offer breeders novel genetic traits to work into their projects, particularly unique aromas and flavours.
What are some of the most popular landrace strains?
Famous landrace sativas:
- Durban Poison, a high-potency, energising sativa queen originating from Durban, South Africa.
- Acapulco Gold, native to Acapulco, Mexico and renowned for its golden-green sheen.
- Thai, which originates from rural regions of Thailand and is believed to have been discovered by Western soldiers stationed throughout Southeast Asia.
- Colombian Gold, similar to Acapulco Gold, boasts a golden sheen and originates from Santa Marta, Colombia.
- Lamb’s Bread, a unique cut native to Jamaica that’s said to pack an intense, yet creative and uplifting buzz.
Famous landrace indicas:
- Afghan, predecessor to our Afghani #1 and countless other world-class indicas.
- Mazar I Sharif, a dense and soothing indica strain grown around the Afghani city it’s named after.
- Hindu Kush, a hardy landrace originating from the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains that stretch through Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
Related post
9 top modern hybrids stemming from landrace strains
As we mentioned earlier, landrace cannabis strains laid down the genetic foundation for countless modern classics. Some of our all-time favourite hybrids with landrace origins include:
- White Widow – A world-renowned classic, an integral part of Dutch culture, and a must-have for any serious grower, White Widow remains one of the biggest names in modern cannabis. At Sensi Seeds, we’re proud to continue offering original White Widow genetics (stemming from Brazilian and South Indian landraces) as regular, feminized, and autoflowering seeds.
- Mexican Sativa – If you think sativas are all tall and hard to grow, think again. Our Mexican Sativa comes from a cross of Oaxacan and Durban landraces and makes a great addition to virtually any garden. In fact, she even holds up really well outdoors in cooler northern climates. Grow Mexican Sativa weed at home today with our regular and feminized seeds.
- Master Kush – Kush is synonymous with exceptional indica weed, and Sensi Seeds Master Kush is the cream of the Kush crop. Combining landrace genetics from India and Afghanistan, Master Kush produces thick, frosty flowers packing earthy aromas reminiscent of sandalwood and incense. Grow this cup-winning strain at home today with our regular, feminized, and autoflowering Master Kush seeds.
- Durban – one of the purest sativas from our catalogue. Durban comes straight from the KwaZulu-Natal province and has been perfected by our breeders to suit the needs of modern cultivators. Sow Durban regular or feminized seeds outside and enjoy as your garden fills with towering sativa queens that produce long, delicious flowers with uplifting and creative effects.
- Silver Haze – a cup-winning classic with over 30 years of history. Like other members of the Haze family, our Silver Haze stems from Mexican, Colombian, Indian, and Thai landraces but features refined growth traits – particularly a shorter flowering time and more manageable stature. Grow Silver Haze at home with regular and feminized seeds.
- Northern Lights – a timeless hybrid stemming from Afghani and Thai landrace varieties. Renowned for its earthy, musky, and sweet aroma and exceptionally positive high, Northern Lights deserves a place in every grower’s gene bank. Get Northern Lights Regular, Northern Lights Feminized, or Northern Lights Auto seeds from Sensi Seeds today.
- Skunk – a strain that revolutionised the growing of cannabis both indoors and out. All true Skunk strains descend from Skunk #1, which combined Acapulco Gold, Colombian Gold, and Afghan landrace genetics. At Sensi Seeds, we’re proud to be one of the few seedbanks to have preserved this incredible strain as regular, feminized, and autoflowering seeds. We’ve also built out the epic Skunk genetic line with strains like Sensi Skunk and many more. Find out more about Skunk strains here.
- White Rhino – stemming from a cross of the epic White Widow and Brazilian, South Indian, and Afghani landraces. The resulting hybrid produces dense indica buds with frosty trichomes and a relaxing effect. Grow her at home with White Rhino Regular Seeds by White Label.
- Purple Bud – a select descendant of the world-famous Purple line bred by crossing Afghan, Jamaican, and Kush landrace strains. Grow her at home and enjoy heavy harvests of mouth-watering purple flowers. Available as feminized and autoflowering seeds.
Are you growing landrace strains at home, or do you have any landraces you’d love to learn more about? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
- Disclaimer:Laws and regulations regarding cannabis cultivation differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.
