Strain Profile: OG Kush Genetics, THC, Terpenes, Effects, Yield & More
- Breeders Collective
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
OG Kush: The Strain That Built the Modern Cannabis Era
OG Kush is one of the most important cannabis strains ever created. If Zkittlez changed terpenes, and Gelato shaped dessert genetics, OG Kush built the entire foundation that today’s modern hybrids stand on. It is the original heavyweight of the gas-profile era, the parent of countless legendary cultivars, and the strain that defined the California cannabis identity for nearly two decades.
Nearly every modern family tree—Gelato, Cookies, Sherbet, Chemdawg descendants, Diesel-influenced hybrids, and many new designer strains—connects back to OG Kush. Its impact is woven into nearly every corner of contemporary cannabis genetics.
Origins and Early Circulation
OG Kush’s origin story is a blend of history, mystery, and West Coast folklore. What is agreed upon is that OG Kush appeared in Southern California in the mid-1990s and rapidly became the dominant cultivar in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. Its arrival marked a shift away from the earlier sweet, skunky, and fruity strains that were popular at the time.
OG Kush introduced a new experience: heavy gas, pine, earth, and a deep, unmistakable pungency that stood apart from everything else available. It had a potency curve ahead of its time, and its flavor profile became an instant classic.
The strain’s name has been debated for decades. Some claim it stands for “Ocean Grown,” pointing to its California roots. Others attach cultural interpretations. What matters most is the role it played in establishing a new era of quality standards.
Genetic Lineage
OG Kush’s exact lineage is still partially debated, but several widely accepted components form the core of its genetic profile.
The most accepted lineage structure is:
A Chemdawg line
A Hindu Kush–related indica
A possible Lemon Thai or other Southeast Asian influence
This combination produced a hybrid unlike any predecessor, with sharper gas notes, thicker resin, and stronger cerebral and body effects.
Chemdawg Influence
Chemdawg is believed to be the primary ancestor. It contributes the strong chemical gas aroma, diesel-like bite, and heavy potency that define OG Kush’s sensory signature.
Kush Influence (Hindu Kush / landrace indica)
The Kush side provides dense buds, earthy undertones, pine resin character, and much of the strain’s physical relaxation.
Citrus or Thai Influence
A lighter, more energetic component is believed to account for OG Kush’s mental clarity and uplifting edge.
The exact percentages may never be known, but the result is clear: OG Kush became the gold standard of gas-dominant hybrids.
Terpenes and Flavor
OG Kush is one of the most terpene-rich gas strains ever produced. Its aroma is complex, sharp, and layered, often described with terms such as:
Diesel
Pine
Earth
Skunk
Lemon peel
Peppery spice
Common terpenes associated with OG Kush include:
Myrcene
Limonene
Caryophyllene
Pinene
Humulene
What makes the terpene profile unique is the balance between its earthy base and high-pitch citrus-gas top notes. The result is a flavor and aroma that instantly identifies the strain, even among modern hybrids.
Cannabinoid Profile
OG Kush typically presents with moderate to high THC levels, commonly ranging from 18 to 26 percent, though some modern cuts test above that range. CBD is usually minimal.
Despite countless potent strains emerging since its debut, OG Kush remains known for an effect profile that feels powerful, long-lasting, and full-bodied. This is due to more than THC content; OG Kush’s distinctive chemistry produces a strong entourage effect that amplifies both flavor and experience.
Effects and Experience
OG Kush’s effects are often described as balanced but intense. It delivers a complex mixture of mental uplift and deep physical relaxation.
Mental Experience
Users often report clarity, sociability, and mild euphoria at onset. Unlike many indica-dominant strains, OG Kush tends to avoid heavy mental fog.
Body Experience
The body effects are pronounced, offering tension relief and a grounded sense of calm. The combination makes OG Kush suitable for a wide range of consumers and occasions.
Its versatility is one reason OG Kush became the backbone of modern West Coast breeding.
Phenotypes and Regional Cuts
Over time, OG Kush spread across California and evolved into a network of regional cuts.
Some of the most well-known phenotypes include:
A San Fernando Valley expression known for its bright lemon-pine top notes and strong physical relaxation.
Heavier, more sedating, often associated with a deeper body melt and richer earthy-gas tones.
A balanced and particularly potent cut known for its smoothness and high resin production.
One of the most potent OG expressions, known for a heavier gas nose and extremely strong effects.
Each phenotype offers a slightly different spin on the classic OG Kush profile, demonstrating its genetic depth and adaptability.
Descendants and Influence
OG Kush is arguably the most influential parent strain of the modern era. Its genetic fingerprints are everywhere.
Major strains descended from OG Kush include:
Countless modern gas hybrids
Many Cookies and Gelato-based descendants, including Jealousy and Permanent Marker through lineage influence
Without OG Kush, modern cannabis as it exists today would be unrecognizable. The strain serves as a foundational parent for nearly every top-tier hybrid of the last decade.
Cultural Significance
OG Kush is more than a strain; it is the cornerstone of modern cannabis culture. Its legacy includes:
Establishing gas as the dominant terpene category for more than 15 years.
Creating a standard for potency and flavor that breeders still measure against.
Serving as the bridge between legacy genetics and modern designer hybrids.
Influencing new families of strains in every major breeding region.
Remaining culturally relevant even as dozens of newer exotics dominate headlines.
OG Kush represents a pivotal moment in cannabis history. It defined an era, shaped the next, and continues to influence the strains being created today.
Below are some of the stand out OG Kush cannabis seed varieties available at Breeders Collective cannabis seed bank:
OG Kush Feminized by Seedstockers is an indica-dominant cross of Chem Dawg and Lemon Thai Paki Kush, offering a rich candy-spicy Kush flavour and producing firm, resinous buds. Flowering in about eight weeks and yielding huge harvests, it’s an easy, beginner-friendly strain with THC levels typically between 14–22% (sometimes reported up to 24%), delivering a heavy-hitting, deeply relaxing effect suited to unwinding and pain relief.
OG Kush by Kush Seeds is a regular photoperiod hybrid selected from a stable OG Kush phenotype, offering earthy pine aromas with subtle citrus and woody, spicy fuel-like flavours. Flowering in 9–10 weeks and reaching 100–150 cm, it yields up to 450 g/m² of dense, trichome-rich buds. Its balanced indica–sativa nature delivers a potent, long-lasting and deeply relaxing effect, making this reliable, resilient classic a favourite for both recreational and medicinal use.
OG Kush by DNA Genetics is a feminised, indica-dominant hybrid originating from ChemD bag seed, offering a bold fuel-like aroma with earthy, citrus and pine notes mirrored in its flavour. Flowering in 8–9 weeks and yielding 400–500 g/m², this medium-height strain produces dense, resin-packed buds ideal for concentrates. Its potent effects deliver deep relaxation, stress relief, euphoric uplift and a sedative finish, making it a classic choice for unwinding and therapeutic use.
OG Kush by Kera Seeds is a feminised, 75% Indica hybrid with debated origins—often linked to ChemDawg, Lemon Thai and Pakistani Kush—and features earthy, piney aromas with subtle citrus and a rich, herbal, fuel-tinged flavour. Flowering in 8–9 weeks and growing 90–160 cm indoors, it produces moderate yields of dense, resinous buds carrying 19% THC. Its effects hit hard with a fast euphoric cerebral buzz that settles into deep physical relaxation, offering strong relief from stress and tension in a classic Kush profile.
OG Kush by Silent Seeds is a feminised, mostly Indica hybrid created from Lemon Thai and Chemdawg, delivering a bold petrol-and-lime aroma with sweet, fruity citrus-diesel flavours. Finishing in just 55 days, it grows tall outdoors and yields up to 550 g/m² indoors or 1100 g per plant outside, producing dense, resinous buds with 22–26% THC. Its long-lasting effects begin with an uplifting cerebral high before easing into a powerful physical and mental relaxation, offering a deeply balanced experience suited to both recreational use and therapeutic relief.
OG Kush by Barney’s Farm Seeds is a feminised, 70% Indica hybrid created from Chemdawg, Lemon Thai and Hindu Kush, offering earthy citrus aromas with sour, skunky fuel and pine, and flavours of sour citrus, herbal spice and classic Kush depth. Flowering in 55–65 days and reaching 100–120 cm indoors or up to 2 metres outdoors, it produces dense, resinous buds yielding up to 600 g/m² or 1500–2000 g per plant. With 23–26% THC, its effects begin with an uplifting, euphoric cerebral buzz before settling into a warm, relaxing body calm that enhances mood and sociability.
OG Kush Auto by Barney’s Farm Seeds is an autoflowering feminised hybrid made from OG Kush (Chemdawg × Lemon Thai × Hindu Kush) crossed with BF Super Auto #1, delivering earthy pine, woody lemon-fuel aromas and dank sour-citrus Kush flavours with subtle spice. Completing its lifecycle in 75 days and reaching 90–110 cm indoors, it yields up to 500 g/m² of dense, resin-heavy buds carrying 20–24% THC. Its 80% Indica profile provides an uplifting yet soothing high that enhances mood and sociability before settling into full-body calm.
OG Kush by Phoenix Seeds is a feminised photoperiod hybrid believed to descend from Pakistani Kush, Lemon Thai and Chemdawg, offering an earthy, pungent aroma with strong citrus-pine notes and a tangy, sweet, lightly spiced fuel-like flavour. Flowering in about eight weeks and reaching 80–100 cm, it delivers moderate to high yields of dense, resinous buds. Its potent, mood-lifting yet physically calming effects provide a euphoric mental lift alongside deep body relaxation, making this compact, easy-growing classic popular for both recreational enjoyment and therapeutic relief.
OG Kush by Medicann is a feminised photoperiod strain from Chemdawg-derived OG Kush genetics, offering a pungent earthy aroma with citrus-pine notes and a bold herbal, lemon-fuel flavour touched by spice. Flowering in 8–10 weeks and yielding high amounts, this medium-to-tall plant produces dense, resinous buds containing 18–22% THC and around 3% CBD. Its 70% Sativa profile delivers intense cerebral uplift and clear-headed euphoria followed by gentle physical relaxation, providing both strong therapeutic value and classic West Coast character.
OG Kush (Regular) by Medicann is a Sativa-dominant photoperiod strain from Chemdawg-derived OG Kush genetics, offering earthy pine and citrus aromas with a fuel undertone and a flavour of herbal lemon-spice with a pungent diesel finish. Flowering in 8–10 weeks, this medium-to-tall plant produces high yields of dense, resinous buds containing 18–22% THC and around 3% CBD. Its effects are intensely uplifting and mentally stimulating with a soothing physical edge, making it well suited for mood elevation, daytime relief and a range of therapeutic applications, while the regular seed format provides full breeding potential.
OG Kush Original by PowerStrains Seeds is a feminised photoperiod Indica-leaning hybrid from Chemdawg, Lemon Thai and Hindu Kush, offering a pungent fuel-skunk aroma with earthy, woody flavours and herbal undertones. Flowering in 8–9 weeks and reaching 80–130 cm indoors or up to 2 metres outdoors, it provides medium yields of dense, resin-heavy buds containing 18–19% THC. Its effects deliver a strong euphoric lift followed by deep physical relaxation that often becomes sedative, making it a classic choice for unwinding and evening use.
OG Kush Autoflower by Seedstockers is an Indica-dominant Chem Dawg × Lemon Thai Paki Kush cross delivering a rich candy-spicy Kush flavour and a strong relaxing effect. Finishing its full cycle in about 10 weeks from seed, it produces firm, sticky buds with above-average yields and THC levels of 23–24%+. Easy to grow and well suited to beginners, this autoflower offers potent, stress-relieving body relaxation in a compact, hassle-free format.
Bruce Banner #3 by Blimburn Seeds is a feminised photoperiod hybrid bred from Strawberry Diesel, Strawberry Cough and Kush, offering a sweet, fruity aroma and flavour layered with earthy undertones. Flowering in 8–10 weeks and reaching 170–200 cm, it yields 400–500 g/m² indoors or 700–800 g per plant outdoors, producing resin-rich buds with 20–29% THC. Its effects deliver a joyous, euphoric cerebral lift that boosts creativity before melting into a satisfying body relaxation.
Stacked OG Kush by DNA Genetics is a feminised photoperiod hybrid of Sleestack and OG #18, offering earthy pine, citrus and fuel aromas with matching herbal-citrus flavours. Flowering in 8–9 weeks, this medium-to-tall plant yields 400–500 g/m² of dense, crystal-covered buds thanks to its high calyx-to-leaf ratio. Its 60% Sativa profile delivers relaxing, uplifting and mildly euphoric effects with notable stress-relieving qualities, making it well suited for both recreational enjoyment and medicinal use.
SFV OG Kush by The Cali Connection is a feminised photoperiod hybrid made from an SFV OG IBL RVSD male crossed with the original SFV OG Kush mother, delivering a lemon-forward aroma with spicy pine and earthy notes and flavours of citrus, pine and a smooth spicy finish. Flowering in 8–9 weeks, this medium, strongly branched plant produces large yields of dense, resin-coated buds. Its 60% Sativa profile provides uplifting, euphoric effects balanced by a soothing body high, offering a versatile and classic OG Kush experience.
Tahoe OG Kush by The Cali Connection is a feminised photoperiod hybrid bred from a Tahoe OG female mother clone and a Tahoe OG S1 reversed male, offering a bold lemon-kerosene aroma with skunky funk and flavours of sharp citrus, earth and fuel. Flowering in 9–10 weeks and growing medium to tall with strong branching, it produces large yields of dense, resin-rich buds. Its 60% Sativa profile delivers uplifting, euphoric effects followed by a calming body high, capturing the potent, award-winning character of the Tahoe OG line.
Jupiter OG Kush by The Cali Connection is a feminised photoperiod hybrid of Jupiter OG and Tahoe OG S1, delivering a pungent fuel aroma with bold lemon undertones and a sharp citrus flavour finished by smooth fuel notes. Flowering in 9–10 weeks, this medium-height plant produces large yields of dense, trichome-rich buds. Its 60% Sativa profile provides euphoric relaxation that settles into a sedative body high, making it well suited for pain relief, evening use and insomnia support.
Browse the full selection of OG Kush cannabis seeds available at Breeders Collective cannabis seed bank here.