Northern Lights

Leafly counts Northern Lights among the best-known strains ever, and AllBud calls it one of the best liked; both describe a pure indica. Leafly also uses the short form NL, and this flower is labelled with the full name.

Afghani and Thai roots, exported from Holland

Leafly says Northern Lights was made by crossing Afghani with Thai. AllBud traces it to Afghani landrace stock, inbred over generations. Our Northern Lights strain page reports Afghani-Thai landrace genetics. Leafly’s history note calls a first sprouting near Seattle, Washington, a rumour and says Sensi Seeds, as the company is now known, took the strain out of Holland after 1985. On AllBud, its strongest following is on the West Coast and in Colorado.

Shiva Skunk and Super Silver Haze are among the hybrids Leafly traces back to it, and Silver Haze and Black Domina appear as children on its genetics tab.

What growers say about the plant

Leafly says growers value it for resin-heavy buds, fast flowering and hardiness. Growers quoted there find it does best indoors and flowers in 45 to 50 days. The plant trims easily because its calyx-to-leaf ratio is high, grows best with several branches, handles moderate to heavy feeding, and gives a typical yield of 400 to 500 g per square metre, per Leafly’s grow notes.

Pine, spice and a smooth exhale

On Leafly the flavour reads pine, earthy and woody, and consumers there describe a pungently sweet, spicy flavour that is smooth on the exhale. Its reviewers mention pine, mint, lemon and earthy notes and sticky, kief-covered buds, and growers describe purple buds coated in crystals.

AllBud lists a sweet and earthy flavour with hints of citrus, and for the aroma it gives pine, pungent, spicy and sweet. One AllBud reviewer describes an earthy, creamy taste that finishes on vanilla and coffee. Our strain page describes a sweet, earthy, piney flavour and a honeyed finish.

Reported effects, THC and ratings

Leafly’s terpene list is led by myrcene, with caryophyllene and limonene behind it. Reviewer tags on Leafly lead with relaxed and hungry, and the strain’s write-up describes euphoric effects that settle throughout the body. AllBud says a couple of hits are enough for powerful body effects, a mix of upbeat euphoria and physical relaxation.

THC reads about 18% on Leafly, with 1% CBG, and 16% to 21% on AllBud; our own strain page gives a typical 16 to 22 percent. Leafly’s rating is 4.4 from 3,835 ratings and AllBud’s is 4.7 from 198 votes.