Kush vs Haze
By classifying cannabis as Indica, Sativa or hybrid we cover the main categories but people often add “subcategories” that help them describe certain types or subtypes of cannabis – such as Haze, Kush, Skunk or Purple. These aren’t real subcategories of cannabis but rather names people use to describe certain types of strains, either by visual appearance, genetics or by effect.
With time Kush became the synonym for powerful and potent Indicas just as Haze has become a synonym for Sativas and generally, they represent those kind of genetics and have similar effects, depending on how close the genetics are to pure Kush or Haze strains and with what else those strains have been crossed.
In some countries and regions people call all highly potent cannabis strains – Kush or Skunk but they are not accurate representations, neither of the strains, as they in most cases aren’t Kush or Skunk strains, nor the effects those strains give.
What Is Kush?
Kush plants are typically pure, or as close to pure, Indicas, although some hybrids and crosses could have different genetics while still having a similar name with “kush” in it. Kush plants are usually small and stocky with big, dense and hard buds and are often used in breeding because of their good and potent yield and good resistance to harsh environments.
Origins Of Kush
Kush strains should originally trace their genetics to the landraces of the mountainous region called Hindu Kush. Stretching through Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, these landraces are grown in some of the best natural environments for cannabis cultivation and provide some of the most potent and flavorful buds, often used in hashish production.
Kush strains become commercially and widely available due to hippies traveling the Hippie Trail in the 1960’s and 1970’s – sort of a pilgrimage that took them from Turkey to India and Nepal. With cannabis growing freely in nature, in most of those regions, as well as hash production and sales being well established, passengers used to bring back primarily hash but also cannabis and cannabis seeds back to countries they came from.
Various parts of US provided a suitable climate to Kush varieties, especially Northern California, mainly because of the similar latitude that provides similar environmental and grow conditions to the ones Kush originated from. Because of the shorter flowering time than the usual Mexican and Colombian, mostly Sativa strains, that were available at the time, and shorter, stockier build with great yield, Kush become a popular breeding stone for many new strains.
What Characterizes Kush Cannabis Strains?
Because of the high altitudes, lower temperatures and overall harsh environment Kush strains have over time developed to be small, strong and sturdy with thick, dense buds providing a great yield with excellent resistance to mold, colder temperatures and less watering.
Usually, when grown indoors, Kush strains won’t grow much over 1m while outdoors they usually reach 1.5m which makes them great for both indoor and outdoor, even guerrilla style gardens.
Kush genetics are very popular among breeders as crossing other strains with Kush usually shortens the flowering time, increases yield and pest and disease resistance. Crossing strains with Kush also makes for more height manageable plants with bigger, denser buds.
Kush plants usually have dark green leaves and buds, that can sometimes exhibit a touch of purple, with pistils that usually turn to red, orange and bronze.
Kush strains often have complex terpene profiles that are responsible for earthy, piney, citrusy or sweet and floral, pungent aromas coming from these strains. The taste and flavor can also vary significantly from strain to strain but usually, tastes are – hash, earth, fuel, flowers, grapes and citrus. Taste is smooth, rich and flavourful, often reminding you of a good hashish.
Kush like most pure Indicas, has very relaxing, sedative and euphoric effects and is used medicinally to fight stress, insomnia, muscle pain and depression. Heavy body stoned feeling that will gradually turn into a pleasant and relaxing cerebral high makes it an ideal night time strain.
Most Popular Kush Strains
Although Kush strains have been around since the 1960-70’s and strains like Hindu Kush, Purple Kush, Master Kush and a few others have been released commercially, the strain that made Kush popular and become a breeding stone for many other great strains is OG Kush.
Strain, that originated in Florida, made its way from West Coast to East Coast in the mid 1990’s. Although exact original genetics remain a mystery – many different phenotypes have emerged – most popular being Rolex OG, Platinum OG, Tahoe OG, SFV OG and Ghost OG.
Other popular Kush strains include Bubba Kush, Afghan Kush, Candy Kush, Cataract Kush, Cookies Kush, Critical Kush, Flowerbomb Kush, Holy Grail Kush, Kosher Kush, Medical Kush, Mickey Kush, Pineapple Kush and Vanilla Kush.
Kush strains are also (grand) parents of many other popular strains like – Girl Scout Cookies, Bruce Banner, Headband, Larry OG, Alien OG, various Chemdog variations, Glueberry OG, Goji OG and many others.
What Are Haze Cannabis Strains?
Just as Kush become synonym for potent Indica strains, Haze become synonym for potent Sativa strains. Although the exact genetic markup isn’t know, Haze plants should be mostly, if not pure, Sativas – giving you a long lasting, energetic high.
Origins Of Haze
As with many older, legendary strains, stories of how they came to be have various versions, depending on who is telling the story but most stories agree that Haze strains originated from Santa Cruz, California and were originally bred by the “Haze Brothers”.
Haze Brothers were experimenting with flavorful Sativa strains during the 1960s and 1970s and the story goes that the Haze came to be by chance – crossing Columbian, Thai, Mexican and Indian landrace Sativas.
Because of its long flowering phase, Haze wasn’t popular among growers and the strain almost went extinct. But, some time during the 1970’s and 1980’s some Haze seeds somehow found their way to Europe and to Nevil Schoenmakers, famous Australian/Dutch breeder.
Nevil stabilized the strain and made it commercially available through “The Seed Bank of Holland” that later become Sensi Seeds. Crossing it with different Indicas to make sure their height is manageable and that they can be grown indoors, he created – Neville’s Haze. Soon, many other seed banks released their own version of Haze and it become a valuable breeding strain and (grand) parent for hundreds of new strains.
What Characterizes Haze Cannabis Strains?
Originating from landraces that come from sunny and warm climates with long and hot Summers and Falls, that allow the fairly long flowering phase that can take up to 16 weeks, Haze plants are usually very tall (can grow up to 8m), thin with small and spaced out buds.
Haze leaves and buds are usually brighter green in color with buds covered in bright orange, red or brown pistils. Buds usually aren’t very dense and hard, compared to many Indica (dominant) strains but have a high THC content nevertheless.
Haze strains usually have strong, fresh spicy scent with earthy undertones and some hints of sweet or citrus.
Haze, like most Sativa (dominant) strains has strong uplifting, energetic, euphoric and creative type of high, that will last for a long time making it a great daily strain. Medical users use Haze strains to treat depression, stress, lack of appetite and pain management.
Most Popular Haze Strains
Starting from Neville’s Haze, many popular crosses of Haze exist like: Northern Lights #5 X Haze, Arjan’s Haze, Purple Haze, (Super) Silver Haze, (Super) Lemon Haze, Amnesia Haze, Critical Haze, G13 X Haze and many others.
Because of its popularity and good genetics, Haze strains are also (grand) parents of many other popular strains like: Jack Herer, Blue Dream, Strawberry Cough, Moby Dick, Tangerine Dream, Afgooey, Chocolope, Lavender and others.
With time both Kush and Haze strains got their autoflowering and CBD variations and strains and both still remain the main building blocks of many new strains that are coming out now.
Like with most old-school cannabis strains, the story of how they become to be and their exact genetic profiles vary and are often covered in mystery which allows for all and any to claim that they have the original. Often, having Kush or Haze in the strain name doesn’t mean that it actually has Kush or Haze genetics in them, or those “original” genetics aren’t really that original but most Kush and Haze strains exhibit the morphology and effects described here.
Have you grown Kush or Haze before? We’d love to hear what are your favorite Kush and Haze strains and we invite you to take a look at our selection and choose some for your next grow.
Why not head on over to The Vault Cannabis Seeds Store now and pick up some Cannabis Seeds, whilst taking advantage of the discount code VAULT15 for a whopping 15% discount off your order of Cannabis Seeds.
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