White Widow is one of the most influential cannabis strains in history — bred in the Netherlands in the mid-1990s from a Brazilian sativa and a South Indian indica, winner of the 1995 Cannabis Cup and the parent of a whole generation of hybrids. In this guide to the White Widow strain you will find its origin, whether it is indica or sativa, its effects, THC level, aroma and terpenes, how it grows — and all 8 variants of the Pyramid Seeds White family. Ready to grow the classic? Browse our White Widow seeds straight from the breeder.
Legal note: the information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. Always follow the laws of your country.
White Widow strain at a glance
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Netherlands, mid-1990s |
| Genetics | Brazilian sativa × South Indian indica |
| Type | Balanced hybrid — 50% sativa / 50% indica (Pyramid Seeds line) |
| THC | 20–22%, CBD below 1% |
| Effects | Euphoric, creative, relaxing; strongly sedating at high doses |
| Aroma | Earthy, spicy, woody, with a candy-like sweetness |
| Dominant terpenes | Myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene |
| Flowering indoors | 60 days (53 days under LED) |
| Outdoor harvest | 2nd–4th week of September (northern hemisphere) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Awards | Cannabis Cup 1995 |
What strain is White Widow? Origin and history
White Widow was created in the Netherlands in the mid-1990s by crossing two landrace lines:
- Brazilian sativa — for energy, vigour and a clear, uplifting head effect
- South Indian indica — for dense trichome production and a thick resin layer
The result was revolutionary: buds so densely coated in trichomes that they looked almost white — hence the name. In 1995 White Widow won the Cannabis Cup and set a new standard for resin production. Since then it has become one of the most widely grown strains in the world and a parent of many well-known hybrids — White Russian (White Widow × AK-47), Blue Widow (White Widow × Blueberry) and Moby Dick (White Widow × Haze) among them.
White Widow and Black Widow: in the late 1990s the original White Widow line moved with its breeder to another seed bank and was renamed Black Widow. That is why the two names describe close relatives — and why our Nefertiti (Black Widow × White Widow) brings both branches of the family together.
Is White Widow indica or sativa?
White Widow is a hybrid. The Pyramid Seeds line is selected as a balanced 50/50 indica–sativa plant: compact and quick to finish like an indica, with the clear, lively onset of a sativa. Some strain databases list White Widow as slightly sativa-leaning (around 60/40) — different seed banks keep different selections of the same classic, which is why the exact ratio varies from source to source.
If you want the sativa side of the family, look at Nefertiti (80% sativa) or American Pie (60% sativa).
White Widow strain effects
The balanced hybrid delivers a two-phase effect that unites both poles:
- Euphoria — an elevated mood and positive energy at the onset
- Creativity — a clear, focused mind, often described as talkative and social
- Relaxation — physical relaxation without immediate couch-lock
- Strongly sedating at higher doses — a long-lasting, deep body effect
Possible side effects: like most THC-rich strains, White Widow can cause a dry mouth and dry eyes; at high doses some people feel dizzy or anxious. With 20–22% THC it is a strong strain, so start low and go slow.
Note: this information does not constitute medical advice.
White Widow THC level
The classic feminized White Widow has 20–22% THC and less than 1% CBD — high and remarkably consistent for a 1990s hybrid. Across the family THC ranges from 7–12% in the CBD versions to 22% in Nefertiti; the full comparison is in the family table below.
Aroma, flavour and terpenes
White Widow smells earthy, spicy and woody, with a sweet, candy-like note and a fresh, pine-like finish. The flavour follows the aroma: woody and peppery on the inhale, slightly sweet on the exhale. The trio of dominant terpenes explains the profile:
| Terpene | Aroma | Role in the profile |
|---|---|---|
| Myrcene | Earthy, musky, sweet | The base of the relaxing body effect |
| Caryophyllene | Spicy, peppery, warm | The characteristic spice |
| Pinene | Fresh, pine-like | The fresh finish and clear-headed onset |
Growing the White Widow strain
White Widow is rated easy: compact, uniform plants, a short flowering time and a forgiving nature. Indoors it flowers in 60 days (53 days under LED) and yields around 500 g/m², up to 800–850 g/1.5 m² with a 720 W LED; it responds well to SCROG and LST. Outdoors it finishes in the second to fourth week of September in the northern hemisphere and yields 0.5–1.5 kg per plant — early enough for short seasons in the UK, northern Europe, Canada and the northern US, and big in long seasons such as southern Europe, California and the southern US. The one thing to watch is humidity in late flowering: the dense buds can develop mould in damp air.
New to growing? Start with our guide on how to germinate cannabis seeds. Full growing specifications are on the White Widow feminized seeds page.
The White Widow family — all 8 variants at a glance
| Strain | Type | THC / CBD | Flowering LED | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Widow | Fem | 20–22% | 53 days | The classic, earthy-spicy, Cannabis Cup 1995 |
| Auto White Widow | Auto | 20–23% | 58 days | No light schedule, same genetics |
| White Widow CBD | Fem | 7–12% THC / 15–21% CBD | 53 days | Highest CBD in the family |
| Auto White Widow CBD | Auto | 7–12% THC / 10–15% CBD | 58 days | CBD + autoflower, the easiest variant |
| American Pie | Fem | 20% | 53–58 days | Power Plant × WW, sweet-creamy, energetic |
| Auto American Pie | Auto | 19% | 43–48 days | Fastest variant — 43 days LED |
| Nefertiti | Fem | 22% | 73 days | Black Widow × WW, 80% sativa, cerebral effect |
| Auto Nefertiti | Auto | 21% | 63 days | Sativa autoflower, haze-citrus profile |
The White Widow family — every strain in detail
White Widow — feminized, 20–22% THC, 53 days LED. Brazilian sativa × South Indian indica, a 50/50 hybrid. Earthy-spicy aroma, a crystalline trichome layer, balanced euphoria + deep relaxation. Cannabis Cup 1995 — the reference strain of the White family.
Buy White Widow
Auto White Widow — autoflowering, 20–23% THC, 58 days LED (65 days from germination). The same White Widow genetics with no light schedule — same white frost look, same effect, more compact format. Allows two harvests per season.
Buy Auto White Widow
White Widow CBD — feminized, 15–21% CBD, 7–12% THC, 53 days LED. The full White Widow terpene profile with a gentle, balanced effect — clarity without an intense high. The highest CBD content of the entire White family.
Buy White Widow CBD
Auto White Widow CBD — autoflowering, 10–15% CBD, 7–12% THC, 58 days LED. The most accessible variant of the White family: no light schedule, a CBD-rich profile, the easiest difficulty level.
Buy Auto White Widow CBD
American Pie — feminized, 20% THC, 53–58 days LED. Power Plant × White Widow: the resin production of WW combined with the energetic, sativa-leaning effect of Power Plant. A sweet-creamy wood-and-cream aroma — a dessert-style interpretation of the White line.
Buy American Pie
Auto American Pie — autoflowering, 19% THC, 43–48 days LED — the fastest variant of the entire White family. Power Plant × White Widow in autoflower format, the sweet cream aroma fully preserved.
Buy Auto American Pie
Nefertiti — feminized, 22% THC, 73 days LED. Black Widow × White Widow — the strongest sativa profile of the family: 80% sativa, a cerebral effect, an intense haze-citrus-pine aroma. For experienced growers and anyone seeking maximum sativa energy from the White line.
Buy Nefertiti
Auto Nefertiti — autoflowering, 21% THC, 63 days LED. Black Widow × White Widow in autoflower format: a haze-citrus-pine profile, a cerebral effect, no light schedule. One of the few sativa-leaning autoflowers with true haze character.
Buy Auto NefertitiWhich White Widow variant is right for you?
- Classic WW character, maximum yield → White Widow Fem — 500 g/m², 53 days LED
- No light schedule, same genetics → Auto White Widow — 58 days LED, two harvests a year
- Daily use without a strong high → White Widow CBD — 15–21% CBD
- CBD + autoflower, the easiest variant → Auto White Widow CBD
- Sweet-creamy profile, sativa energy → American Pie — Power Plant × WW
- Fastest harvest in the family → Auto American Pie — 43–48 days LED
- Maximum sativa, cerebral, haze profile → Nefertiti — 80% sativa, 22% THC
- Sativa autoflower with haze character → Auto Nefertiti
Why white? White Widow and the colour of 2026
For 2026 Pantone chose Cloud Dancer, a pure white, as its Colour of the Year — the first white in the history of the award, standing for clarity and a fresh start. In cannabis, white has had a legendary embodiment for three decades: the frost-white buds of White Widow.
FAQ: White Widow strain
What strain is White Widow?
White Widow is a legendary hybrid bred in the Netherlands in the mid-1990s from a Brazilian sativa and a South Indian indica. It won the Cannabis Cup in 1995 and is famous for buds so densely covered in trichomes that they look white.
Is White Widow indica or sativa?
It is a hybrid. The Pyramid Seeds line is a balanced 50/50 indica–sativa plant; some strain databases list White Widow as slightly sativa-leaning, because different seed banks keep different selections of the classic. Nefertiti, a member of the family, is 80% sativa.
What are the effects of the White Widow strain?
A two-phase effect: euphoria, creativity and a talkative mood at first, then physical relaxation. At higher doses it becomes strongly sedating. Possible side effects are a dry mouth and dry eyes, and at high doses dizziness or anxiety.
How strong is White Widow? What is its THC level?
The classic feminized White Widow has 20–22% THC and less than 1% CBD. Auto White Widow reaches 20–23%, Nefertiti 22%, and the CBD versions contain 7–12% THC with 10–21% CBD.
What does White Widow taste and smell like?
Earthy, spicy and woody, with a sweet, candy-like note and a fresh, pine-like finish. The dominant terpenes are myrcene, caryophyllene and pinene.
Why is it called White Widow?
Because of the white layer of trichomes that covers its buds — the strain's resin production was so exceptional in the 1990s that the flowers looked frosted white.
What is the difference between White Widow and Black Widow?
Black Widow is the name the original White Widow line received in the late 1990s, when it moved with its breeder to another seed bank — the two are close relatives. Our Nefertiti crosses Black Widow with White Widow.
When is White Widow harvested?
Indoors after 60 days of flowering (53 days under LED). Outdoors in the northern hemisphere, in the second to fourth week of September. Auto White Widow is ready 65 days from germination (58 days under LED); Nefertiti finishes outdoors in early November.
Is there a White Widow autoflower or CBD version?
Yes. Auto White Widow flowers without a light schedule, and there are two CBD versions: White Widow CBD (15–21% CBD) and Auto White Widow CBD (10–15% CBD).
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