Super Lemon Haze was developed by Arjan Roskam of Green House Seeds in Amsterdam, building on the sustained Haze breeding programme that had already produced Super Silver Haze — itself a High Times Cannabis Cup winner. The cross combines Lemon Skunk, a Dutch skunk-line cultivar selected for its exceptional lemon citrus aroma, with Super Silver Haze, which brings the Haze lineage’s characteristic cerebral intensity, vigour, and long flowering endurance.
The genetic combination is precise in its effect: Lemon Skunk contributes the pronounced citrus terpene expression dominated by terpinolene and ocimene, while Super Silver Haze contributes the structural sativa dominance, flowering speed relative to pure Haze, and the uplifting mental profile. The result is a cultivar that preserved Haze’s legendary cerebral character while delivering a commercially viable, aromatically distinctive package that dominated competitive judging panels in the late 2000s.
| Trait | From Lemon Skunk | From Super Silver Haze |
|---|---|---|
| Aroma | Intense lemon, citrus, candy | Spice, incense, skunky base |
| Effect character | Uplifting, sociable, mood-lift | Cerebral intensity, creativity |
| Structure | Moderate stretch, bushy | Tall sativa, elongated colas |
| Flowering speed | Faster skunk genetics | Haze-shortened (9–10w vs 14+w) |
| Key terpene | Terpinolene, Ocimene | Terpinolene, Myrcene |
| Yield | Moderate | High under SCROG |
| Year | Event | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | High Times Cannabis Cup, Amsterdam | Best Sativa | 1st Place |
| 2009 | High Times Cannabis Cup, Amsterdam | Best Sativa | 1st Place |
Terpinolene is the defining compound in Super Lemon Haze, accounting for the clean pine-lemon-candy character that separates it from limonene-dominant citrus strains. While limonene produces a straightforward orange/lemon note, terpinolene’s aroma is more complex: simultaneously floral, pine, citrus, and slightly herbal. Ocimene adds a sweet, herbal, slightly tropical dimension. Myrcene provides the grounding earthy baseline that prevents the aroma from reading as synthetic.
| Compound | Range | Aroma Note | Effect Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| THC | 18–22% | — | Primary psychoactive |
| CBD | <1% | — | Minimal modulation |
| Terpinolene | Primary | Lemon, pine, floral, candy | Uplifting, antioxidant |
| Ocimene | Secondary | Sweet, herbal, tropical | Mood elevation, anti-viral |
| Myrcene | Tertiary | Earthy, musky, herbal | Grounding, membrane permeability |
Super Lemon Haze produces a textbook sativa experience: rapid onset within minutes of inhalation, a wave of mental energy, and a mood elevation that shifts the cognitive register toward optimism and sociability. The Haze genetic backbone ensures that the cerebral effect is sustained — it does not peak sharply and crash, but maintains a plateau for 90 minutes to two hours before gradually tapering. Body sensation is light, appropriate for activities requiring physical movement alongside mental engagement.
Medical applications concentrate on conditions where cognitive activation is therapeutically useful: depression, fatigue, ADHD, and situational stress. The terpinolene profile, which has documented uplifting and antioxidant properties, likely contributes to the subjective mood-lift beyond the THC effect alone.
| Strain | Genetics | Lead Terpene | Lemon Intensity | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Lemon Haze | Lemon Skunk × SSH | Terpinolene | Very high | Candy-lemon, cerebral haze |
| Lemon Haze | Silver Haze × Lemon Skunk | Terpinolene | High | Lemon-spice, smooth haze |
| Super Lemon OG | Lemon OG × Tahoe OG | Limonene | Moderate-high | Lemon-diesel, indica-leaning |
| Lemon Thai | Thai landrace | Terpinolene | High | Pure Thai cerebral, rare |
Super Lemon Haze is among the most rewarding sativas to grow once its spatial demands are managed. The plant stretches aggressively in the first three weeks of flower — typically 50 to 80 percent above its vegetative height — so beginning the flowering period with plants at 50 to 60cm allows the final canopy to settle at a manageable 90 to 120cm under a SCROG net. Growers who skip this planning regularly find colas pressing against HPS fixtures or LED panels, causing light burn.
Terpene expression in Super Lemon Haze is temperature-sensitive. Maintaining a day/night differential of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius in weeks seven through ten enhances terpinolene volatilisation and intensifies the lemon candy aroma in the final cure. Harvest timing is best judged at 60 to 70 percent cloudy trichomes with minimal amber for the most energetic, functional effect.
| Parameter | Indoor | Outdoor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering Time | 9–10 weeks | Late October | Do not harvest early — flavour peaks week 9+ |
| Height | 100–150cm | 200–300cm | SCROG essential indoors |
| Yield Indoor | 450–600g/m² | 750–1000g/plant | Among the highest-yielding sativas |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Easy–Moderate | Height the main challenge; forgiving on nutrients |
| Humidity Flower | 40–50% RH | Mediterranean climate optimal | Open sativa structure = lower mold risk |
| Temp Flower | 20–26°C day / 14–18°C night | 18–28°C | Day/night differential enhances terpene expression |
Super Lemon Haze contains negligible CBD. Standard immunoassay will detect THC-COOH metabolites. Detection windows: occasional use 3–5 days, daily use up to 30 days. See the THC detection guide for full frequency data.
Jordan Price has spent over a decade documenting cannabis genetics, terpene chemistry, and cultivation science. His reviews combine hands-on grow experience with published pharmacological literature to deliver technically accurate, practitioner-grade content.
