Haze vs. Skunk vs. Kush: How to Tell the Classic Strains Apart

Haze, Skunk and Kush are the three classic families behind most modern weed, and each one is easy to spot once you know the signs. Haze is a tall, slow-flowering sativa with olive-green buds and an energetic head high; Skunk is a sturdy, easy-to-grow plant with dense, resinous buds and a famously pungent smell; Kush is a stocky indica from the Hindu Kush mountains with dark, purple-tinged leaves and a relaxing body high. Advances in genetics and technology have given growers thousands of strains to choose from, but it wasn't always that way. The three best-known strains in the cannabis world are Skunk, Kush and Haze.

Haze: the tall, slow sativa

Haze is considered one of the oldest, and legend has it that it was an accidental creation of the Haze brothers in the US in the 1970s.

Growers know that working with a Haze takes time and a lot of attention, which is why the strain nearly went extinct in the 1980s. Flowering is usually very long, up to 16 weeks to maturity. These demanding, high-maintenance plants deliver incredible results if you treat them right.

Over time, and once Haze made it to Europe, the strain's purity got diluted, so finding 100% pure Haze today is no easy feat. But genetics and growers' love for it produced hybrids that still carry some Haze in them. If you want to grow one of these, LeBron Haze (available in our Argentine shop) is a great pick because it flowers super fast and yields big.

Why growers and smokers love Haze

Thanks to its high THC content and its sativa dominance, sometimes pure sativa, this is one of the most popular strains around. The high is energetic and cerebral, perfect for creative work. Sweet, fruity notes in the aroma make it a favorite. Its genetic roots run from Mexican, Indian and Thai sativas to well-known landraces like Acapulco Gold and Colombian Gold.

As for looks, Haze stands out for its olive-green color and the orange pistils wrapped around the bud, like a coat of orange hairs. The leaves are a deep, vivid green. Haze plants grow tall and lanky.

Some of the varieties you'll come across: Purple Haze, Lemon Haze, Amnesia Haze, Super Lemon Haze, Silver Haze and Critical Haze.

Skunk: the pungent, easy grower

Skunk is one of the most beloved weed strains and one of the first to be identified. Credit goes to Sam "the Skunkman," a Californian who didn't have much growing experience back in the early '70s.

Legend says he had to grow thousands of seeds before he found the original Skunk, and once he had it, Sam "the Skunkman" took seeds to the Netherlands, setting off a worldwide Skunk craze. The roots of this polyhybrid were the sativas Acapulco Gold and Colombian Gold (both circulating in California at the time), plus an Afghani indica. 

How to recognize Skunk weed

Skunk is known for its loud, pungent aroma, so strong its breeders simply named it after the skunk. Skunk genetics turned out to be high in THC and easy to grow, which is why so many people love it. Even less experienced growers can pull big, heavy-yielding plants. Skunk's potency holds steady over time and the plants handle all kinds of climates. It does great outdoors, indoors and in greenhouses. 

Skunk plants are tall, sturdy and tough but easy to manage, with big green-to-golden-yellow leaves and dense, compact buds that are absolutely loaded with resin. The strain has been bred over and over, giving us incredible offspring like Super Skunk, Critical, Big Bud and Lemon Skunk, among others.

Kush: the mountain indica

The Kush family is a huge family of hybrids. Pay attention to song lyrics or movies and you'll hear Kush name-dropped more than once.

These days, Kush strains are the most popular face of indica. Most are hybrids made with plants from the Hindu Kush in Central Asia, which is where the name comes from.

This particular cannabis indica comes from the Hindu Kush mountains. The range runs along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and is one of the few places in the world where cannabis grows natively.

How to recognize Kush

Grow a Kush and you'll notice dark green leaves with hints of purple. The hairs on the buds are orange, and the plants are stocky and chunky.

The aroma ranges from earthy and floral to spicy and citrusy. The smoke is smooth and herbal, with notes of flowers, citrus and earth. The high is strong and euphoric in the head, but it loosens up your body and leaves you grinning on the couch. Introspection is a common effect too, so you could call it a meditative strain. 

Like many landrace strains, Kush genetics can survive cold, harsh climates. That toughness, plus big yields and the size the plants can reach, is why so many growers go with Kush strains. 

Many medical cannabis patients around the world choose Kush because they report strong pain relief. Patients also often turn to this type of strain for insomnia, loss of appetite and anxiety. 

Look for Kush strains and you'll find plenty with Afghan ancestry, like Black Dom XXL Auto. Other strains to look for: OG Kush, Purple Kush, Lemon Kush, Orange Kush and Critical Kush.