White Widow, White Runtz, or a stunning cut of albino weed, white cannabis can mean different things to different people. Learn all there is to know about white weed strains below and find the best white varieties to add to your next grow!
From the classic White Family that descended from White Widow, to weed plants that actually turn physically white, there’s plenty of intrigue surrounding white cannabis.
Below, we take a comprehensive look at white weed and what makes it so special. We’ll explore the famous White Family; white albino cannabis and, of course, shine a light on the best white weed strains from across the globe.
The White Family
When people talk about white cannabis, they are often referring to strains descending from White Widow, arguably one of the world’s most popular cannabis hybrids, and a household name among smokers everywhere.
White Widow was bred in the Netherlands in the 1990s by Australian-born grower and breeder Shantibaba (AKA Scott Blakey). A close friend of Nevil Schoenmakers, Shantibaba played a key role in the Dutch cannabis scene, and to this day is recognised as one of the world’s most influential breeders.
Like many breeders at the time, Shantibaba worked with seeds he collected while travelling. He created White Widow while working with Green House Seeds by crossing a Brazilian Sativa mother with a South Indian indica father originating from the mountains of Kerala. Green House Seeds released the strain in 1994, and by 1995 White Widow already won its first Cannabis Cup.
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The legend of White Widow
White Widow had many attractive traits. Most notably, this strain hit the market when indoor growing was still relatively new. Like Skunk or Northern Lights, White Widow presented growers with the then novel experience of being able to grow high-yielding, hassle-free plants even in small indoor spaces.
Of course, White Widow’s aromas, flavours, and effects don’t disappoint, either. To this day, White Widow delights users with her spicy, earthy, and floral aromas/flavours, as well as her potent, uplifting buzz that leaves you feeling elated, talkative, and even productive.
White Widow descendants
Given her mix of easy growth traits, delicious aromas/flavours, and potent effects, it wasn’t long before breeders started experimenting with White Widow genetics. Today, the large collection of White Widow descendants is commonly referred to as The White Family and comprises strains like:
- White Russian (White Widow x AK47)
- White Rhino (White Widow x Afghan Indica)
- Great White Shark (White Widow x Super Skunk)
- White Haze (White Widow x Original Haze)
- White Diesel (White Widow x NYC Diesel)
- White Gold (White Widow x Himalayan Gold)
- Berry White (White Widow x Blueberry)
What about Black Widow?
Often wrongly thrown into the pot with the other members of the White Family we listed above, Black Widow is actually a rebranded version of White Widow. Shantibaba renamed his original White Widow after leaving Green House Seeds and founding Mr Nice seeds. Black Widow is also one of the bestsellers of the Shantibaba Seeds catalogue.
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Albino cannabis – Is white cannabis real?
Sometimes, growers and breeders use the term “white strains” to refer to albino cannabis – that is, cannabis strains that actually appear white (rather than green or purple).
Whether or not white weed exists is a heated debate in the cannabis world. On the one hand, we know that albinism has been observed in plants like redwoods, maize, and tobacco; so it seems very plausible that cannabis could suffer from albinism, too.
Note that we used the word “suffer” very intentionally. Albinism affects a plant’s ability to produce chlorophyll, the green pigments that are responsible for photosynthesis. Without chlorophyll to photosynthesise with, albino plants typically have stunted growth and die prematurely.
While the internet is rife with pictures of supposed “real” white cannabis buds, most of the pictures we’ve seen are either photoshopped or show plants that have been bleached of chlorophyll from receiving too much light (learn more about Light Stress and Light Burn here). So real albinism, while possible, seems very rare in cannabis.
Note: albinism shouldn’t be confused with variegation, a common (and often highly desired) genetic mutation that affects chlorophyl production in different parts of a plant, giving it a striped, spotted, or patchy appearance.
Variegation is common in plants like Monsteras, Pothos, Philodendron, Ficus, Chlorophytum, and Dracaena. In cannabis, its far less common, though we’ve spotted variegation in a cut of Woodlands Digital by Lupos.
White strains outside the White Family
Besides the famous White Family and albino cannabis, white weed can also refer to strains that simply have the word “white” in their name. Some popular examples include:
- White Runtz, a unique Runtz phenotype (Gelato x Zkittlez) with a peachy, floral aroma.
- The White, a mysterious strain originating from Florida.
- White Fire OG, a high-potency cross of Fire OG and The White.
- White Buffalo, a mix of Romulan, Blackberry Kush and Bay that produces spicy, minty aromas.
- White 99, a cross of The White x Cinderella 99 with unique sweet and sour terps.
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The best white strains
So, you now know all about the famous White Family, albino cannabis, and even the collection of White strains that don’t descend from White Widow. But what if you want to grow white weed at home?
Of course, we’ve got you covered. Below you’ll find a hand-picked selection of the best white weed strains; some of which we proudly created ourselves and are available directly from the Sensi Seeds store:
1. White Widow
No list of white weed strains could ever be complete without mentioning the mother of the White Family. White Widow is a piece of cannabis history that deserves a stable place in every grower’s genetics arsenal. Easy to grow, high-yielding, delicious, and extra potent, she’s hard to beat, even 30+ years after she was first created!
Get regular, feminized, or autoflowering White Widow seeds from Sensi Seeds here.
2. White Russian
Following the Queen herself comes White Russian, another member of white cannabis royalty. Bred from Shantibaba’s White Widow and Serious Seeds’ famous AK47, White Russian is sativa-dominant and produces uplifting, creative effects, all while delighting the senses with notes of roses, tobacco, and toasted nuts.
3. White Skunk
Though she’s not related to White Widow, Sensi Seeds’ White Skunk makes an excellent addition to any garden. A descendant of real Skunk lines that we’ve proudly preserved since Skunk #1 burst onto the scene, White Skunk boasts a bright citrus aroma, a cheerful yet relaxing buzz, and all the excellent growth traits you’d expect from a true Skunk! Get your feminized, autoflowering, or regular seeds from White Label now!
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4. White Diesel Haze
When you’re like us and you have access to the world’s best genetics, it doesn’t take long to put three and three together. Our White Diesel Haze is, you guessed it, a three-way cross of White Widow, NYC Diesel, and Haze: No biggie, just some of the most iconic cannabis strains on the face of the earth.
As expected from such an epic cross, the results were amazing: enjoy growing compact plants with a fruity profile and an exciting cerebral high! Get your White Diesel Haze Automatic seeds from White Label now.
Alternatively, check out White Diesel, a classic cross of White Widow and NYC Diesel. Nicknamed green fuel, White Diesel is uplifting and energising, with pungent petrol aromas. Get your feminized seeds here.
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5. White Haze
The Haze family reunites some of the best sativa cuts from around the world. As her name suggests, White Haze combines the best of this all-star sativa line with White Widow, producing plants with uplifting effects and compact, fast growth.
Forget about tending to 3 m-tall trees and waiting months to get to harvest: White Haze Automatic is easy to grow even indoors and can be ready for the shears 12-16 weeks after germinating your seeds. Get your White Haze Automatic seeds from White Label now.
6. White Cheese
A member of the White Family, White Cheese descends from White Rhino (White Widow x Afghan Indica) and a stinky, cheesy Skunk #1 phenotype (the real predecessor to classic UK Cheese). Enjoy fast-growing, high-yielding plants with purple hues and skunky fruit aromas/flavours, oddly reminiscent of a cheese platter! Get your feminized seeds from White Label here.
7. White Biscotti OG XXL
Chasing modern US flavours? Then White Biscotti OG XXL needs to be in your garden, stat. A cross of Wifi OG (aka White Fire OG) and Biscotti (a delicious Gelato offspring), White Biscotti OG XXL boasts bulky buds with creamy, gassy aromas and flavours. Her effects, meanwhile, are perfectly balanced, delivering cerebral euphoria and physical relaxation in equal measure. Get your feminized seeds from White Label here.
8. White Rhino
If it’s classic white genetics you’re after, then White Rhino is a no-brainer. 90% indica-dominant, this strain descends from legendary landrace cultivars from India, Brazil, and Afghanistan. Her dense, bright green flowers come drenched in trichomes and shine white under lights, while her unique terpene profile gives her a classic spicy, earthy, and woody profile: ideal for lovers of old-school hash. Get your regular White Rhino seeds here.
9. White Gold
Another classic, White Gold descends from White Widow and Himalayan Gold, a delectable Asian landrace found on the foothills of the Himalayas. Ideal for cooler regions, White Gold is hardy, fast, and produces delicious buds with hints of tropical fruit! Get your regular White Gold seeds from White Label here.
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10. White Gorilla Haze
Though not a descendant of the White Family, White Gorilla Haze still offers plenty to get excited about. Crossing the epic Gorilla Glue with Original Haze, this 50-50 hybrid makes a stellar addition to any garden. Pick up your feminized seeds here and enjoy a delicious aromatic palette that combines old-school Haze notes with hints of coffee, pine, and citrus.
But be careful: like the original GG#4, White Gorilla Haze is extra potent, so enjoy her in moderation!
11. White Ice
Last but not least on our list of the best white weed strains is White Ice, a boutique indica-dominant hybrid that combines Northern Lights, Dutch Skunk, and Afghan genetics. Delivering a classic indica stone and a pungent, oily, and woody aroma, she’s truly unique! Get your feminized and regular seeds from White Label now.
Are you a fan of the White Family? Let us know your favourite white cannabis strains in the comments below. And of course, if you’ve ever spotted real albino cannabis, be sure to share your pics with us (and our readers) too!
- 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.
