Top 10 Crossbred Cannabis Strains

One thing’s for sure; hybrids keep the cannabis industry interesting. New, unique crosses of old favorites inject novel flavors, scents, and effects into the mix. With so many options available, the hunt to find the perfect hybrid for your setup and preferences can be a daunting one.

Luckily, this list of the top crossbred strains breaks down some of the most diverse and exotic hybrids, with parents from disparate ends of the indica–sativa spectrum or hailing from distant regions of the world. With crossbreeds, old becomes new again!

1. Skunk XL

Skunk XL is a balanced 50/50 indica/sativa hybrid. As the offspring of Colombian, Mexican, and Afghan landraces (Acapulco Gold crossed with Afghan), Skunk XL is also an improvement on the original Skunk, with a sweeter taste and larger buds.

Indoors, plants reach about 1m in height and yield one giant cola surrounded by fewer, smaller buds. In this setting, harvests of up to 21.2 – 22.9 oz/m² are possible. Outdoors, she prefers sunny, warmer climates like Spain, Italy, and California, where she can stretch up to 2m in height. In these conditions, she can produce up to 23.8 oz. Once her buds are harvested, dried, and cured, smokers can prepare themselves for a stoned experience courtesy of 17% THC and complex skunky terpenes.

Skunk XL

Skunk XL

	Skunk 1 x Afghan
	21 to 23 oz/m²
	2 to 3 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 17%

	Sativa 50% Indica 50%
	22 to 24 oz/plant
	5 to 7 feet
	October
	Balanced, Clear, Stoned

Buy Skunk XL

2. Royal Cheese

Royal Cheese is not only legendary, but enjoys a “blue blood” reputation in the UK. The smoke she delivers is a sublime mix of sour cheese tastes and stoning effects. This is thanks to formidable parentage in the form of Old School Skunk and Afghan.

This seriously stinky hybrid can reach up to 1.5m indoors, but stretches another metre beyond that when cultivated outdoors. Indoor harvests clock in at around 19.4 oz/m², whereas she yields up to 21.2 oz outdoors. Royal Cheese develops flowers seriously fast—you can harvest her in just 7–8 weeks of bloom. That said, if you have a little more patience and love the cheese-like pong, let her mature for up to 10 weeks.

Royal Cheese (Fast Flowering)

Royal Cheese (Fast Flowering)

	Old School Skunk x Afghani
	16 to 19 oz/m²
	2 to 3 feet
	7 - 8 weeks
	THC: 17%

	Sativa 40% Indica 60%
	19 to 21 oz/plant
	4 to 7 feet
	Early October
	Balanced, Clear, Stoned

Buy Royal Cheese (Fast Flowering)

3. Blue Gelato

This complex hybrid descends from Blueberry and Thai cultivars; specifically a mix of Blueberry, Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, and Sunset Sherbet. This is one tasty canna-cocktail indeed, with a 23% THC level to boot. Despite being an indica-dominant cultivar, Blue Gelato is perfect for low-key social events.

Outdoor growers can expect 500–21.2 oz from specimens that top out at above 2m. Indoors, Blue Gelato can deliver 17.6 – 21.2 oz/m², with plants reaching 2.6 – 4.3 feet—but expect to spend some time training. The flowering phase lasts for 9–10 weeks, but the slightly longer wait is certainly worth it.

Blue Gelato

Blue Gelato

	Blueberry x Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies x Sunset Sherbert
	19 to 21 oz/m²
	3 to 4 feet
	9 - 10 weeks
	THC: 23%

	Sativa 20% Indica 80%
	18 to 21 oz/plant
	5 to 7 feet
	October
	Balanced, Physically Relaxing, Uplifting

Buy Blue Gelato

4. Kali Dog

Kali Dog is a cross between Chemdawg and Sour Diesel. Bred around the turn of the century, growers love this strain for its relatively compact stature, dense growth, and generous yields—not to mention its pungent citrus-petrol scent. Kali Dog is not a plant for novice cultivators; but for those with the skill to grow her, she is worth it.

The flowering time is a standard 8–10 weeks indoors, at the end of which she yields up to 15.9 – 17.6 oz/m². Expect this yield but per plant when grown outdoors. Kali Dog is also a heavy feeder, and loves strong bloom boosters and other nutrients. But for this extra effort you will be rewarded; buds containing 18% THC impart a clear and uplifting high perfect for the daytime.

Kali Dog

Kali Dog

	Chemdawg x Sour Diesel
	16 to 19 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 10 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 55% Indica 45%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	6 to 7 feet
	Late October
	Clear, Uplifting

Buy Kali Dog

5. Special Kush

Special Kush hails from the Hindu Kush mountain range and retains strong Afghan and Skunk genetics. Indoors, she will fill up any space she can. Outdoors, given enough space and time, she can reach 3m in height.

With a flowering time of just 7–8 weeks, Special Kush can yield up to 16.8 oz/m² indoors. Outdoors, particularly in a warm climate, she can deliver up to 19.4 oz/plant. Special Kush develops small, tight nuggets that are liberally frosted with trichomes. The smoke is hash-like, and delivers a heavy body stone that will keep you glued to whatever piece of furniture you’re lounging on.

Special Kush 1

Special Kush 1

	Afghan x Kush
	15 to 17 oz/m²
	2 to 3 feet
	7 - 8 weeks
	THC: 17%

	Sativa 20% Indica 80%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	7 to 9 feet
	Late September
	Heavy, Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy Special Kush 1

6. ICE

This seriously chill cross between Afghan, Northern Light, and Skunk results in a plant fully covered in resin glands. The buds produced by this magnificent hybrid are so frosty and sparkly that the moniker is only natural.

Like most heavily indica-dominant strains, ICE (aka Indica Crystal Extreme) is short, reaching only 1m indoors. In this setting, she responds well to training and yields up to 15.9 oz/m² of dense buds. Outdoors, ICE churns out 500–19.4 oz/plant after about 8 weeks of flowering. Expect a robust body high from this strain, as well as fresh flavor notes of pine and mint.

ICE

ICE

	Afghan x Northern Light x Skunk
	14 to 16 oz/m²
	3 to 4 feet
	8 - 10 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 10% Indica 90%
	18 to 19 oz/plant
	5 to 7 feet
	September
	Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy ICE

7. Triple G

Triple G hails from famous ancestors—Gorilla Glue #4 crossed with Gelato 33. Like her parents, Triple G features a massive THC level (around 26%) and dessert-like flavors that please the mind, body, and taste buds.

This 85% indica-dominant beast thrives indoors and out, reaching up to 54.6 inches in height in the former and 70.2 inches in the latter, and churning out large yields of up to 20.3 oz/m² and 22.9 oz, respectively. Come harvest time, her bulbous flowers will be covered in a shiny sea of resin, hinting at the massive potency and flavor within. Gear up for a euphoric, motivating ride as you toke on a joint of these earthy, spicy flowers.

Triple G

Triple G

	Gorilla Glue 4 x Gelato 33
	18 to 20 oz/m²
	3 to 4 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 26%

	Sativa 15% Indica 85%
	21 to 23 oz/plant
	5 to 6 feet
	Middle of October
	Clear, Euphoric, Fast Thinking, Motivating

Buy Triple G

8. Royal AK

Royal AK is a shotgun blast of a strain, delivering an incredibly pure and uplifting high. This 18% THC powerhouse is the result of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Afghan landraces, resulting in a 60% sativa, 40% indica mix. The plant has an exceptionally strong scent to boot, bearing tantalising notes of berries, fruit, and diesel.

Indoors, Royal AK usually reaches between 80–54.6 inches in height, yielding 525–20.3 oz/m² after 8–9 weeks of flowering. Outdoors, she can stretch to as much as 66.3 inches and produce between 600 and 22.9 oz in mid-October. Despite being sativa-dominant, Royal AK keeps the wait relatively short while retaining sativa-like morphology and uplifting terpenes.

Royal AK

Royal AK

	Columbian, Mexican, Thai & Afghan
	18 to 20 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	8 - 9 weeks
	THC: 19%

	Sativa 60% Indica 40%
	21 to 23 oz/plant
	4 to 6 feet
	Early October
	Balanced, Clear, Stoned

Buy Royal AK

9. Chocolate Haze

Chocolate lovers will absolutely adore this offspring of OG Chocolate Thai crossed with Cannalope Haze. This 95% sativa, 5% indica creates a high that lasts for several hours while leaving the user super aware and alert to their surroundings. As for her flavor, notes of chocolate are indeed featured, but fruit and earth also prevail.

Chocolate Haze requires a little extra room to stretch, and time to flower. Experienced indoor growers can achieve up to 18.5 oz/m² from plants reaching 3 – 5.2 feet in height. However, a flowering time of 9–11 weeks means growers must exercise some patience. Outdoors, up to 17.6 oz is possible from 2m-tall plants, ready to harvest in late October or early November.

Chocolate Haze

Chocolate Haze

	OG Chocolate Thai x Cannalope Haze
	17 to 18 oz/m²
	3 to 5 feet
	9 - 11 weeks
	THC: 20%

	Sativa 95% Indica 5%
	16 to 18 oz/plant
	5 to 7 feet
	Late October
	Heavy

Buy Chocolate Haze

10. Fruit Spirit

Fruit Spirit was created as a cross between Blueberry and White Widow, creating one of the sweetest strains on the market today. The smoke Fruit Spirit delivers is outstanding. Alongside an 18% THC content, she also has a super-sweet blueberry taste.

This indica-dominant (70%) strain seldom reaches a metre when grown indoors. That said, she can still produce up to 15 oz/m² after 9–10 weeks under powerful lights. Outside, in a sunny environment, she can top out at 2 metres and deliver up to 18.5 oz/plant come mid-October. This is a great strain for growing in warm and tropical environments like Spain, Italy, Greece, Jamaica, and Brazil.

Fruit Spirit

Fruit Spirit

	Blueberry x White Widow
	13 to 15 oz/m²
	3 to 4 feet
	9 - 10 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 30% Indica 70%
	17 to 18 oz/plant
	6 to 7 feet
	Early October
	Clear

Buy Fruit Spirit

There you have it! The hybrids above represent some of the finest cannabis crossbreeding efforts in recent history, and only pave the way for more exceptional and dynamic strains to come. Now all that’s left to do is to try one of these fabulous crosses for yourself!