What is a landrace strain?
A landrace strain is a cannabis strain that has been grown for generations in the same region, in a traditional way, until it has fully adapted to the local climate. They are also called native or traditional strains.
For centuries, farmers in different parts of the world grew cannabis by saving the seeds of their best plants for the following season. Without seed banks or laboratories, just through that process, each area ended up with its own plant: adapted to its hours of sunlight, its temperature and its humidity.
It's like the heirloom tomatoes of each region: every village has its own, and it doesn't behave the same if you take it to another climate.
Many of the varieties we grow today descend from landraces. Seed banks have used them as a starting point for their crosses.
Well-known examples
Landraces usually carry the name of their place of origin:
- Afghan and Hindu Kush (the mountain range between Afghanistan and Pakistan): compact, indica-type, very resinous plants.
- Thai, Colombian or Mexican: tall, sativa-type plants with long flowering.
- South African, like the well-known Durban Poison, also sativa-type.
Are they a good option for you?
Landraces appeal to people looking for "original" flavors and sensations or who want to preserve classic genetics. Keep in mind that outside their climate they can behave differently: some tropical sativas take so long to flower that, outdoors, they don't finish in time where autumn comes early and cold.
Before choosing one, check the flowering time and the climate recommended by the seed bank on the product page.
Related terms
Before you grow, check the laws in your country: growing cannabis is not allowed everywhere.
