Skunk, White Widow or Cookies are cannabis strains that everyone has heard of, including those who do not particularly favour this herb. Although each of these cultivars has its own unique characteristics, if we place them side by side, they are almost indistinguishable to a layperson. However, among cannabis strains we can also find some that are completely unlike anything else in appearance. Some can even look like a different plant species at first glance. Let us take a look at the strangest cannabis strains that can be grown.
Freakshow
As the name suggests, the Freakshow strain has the strangest leaf shape you have ever seen in cannabis. Thanks to a genetic mutation, its leaves resemble fern fronds rather than cannabis leaves. The cultivar was created by an American breeder known by the nickname Shapeshifter and his son Maxx, who later developed a similarly mutated strain called Berry Freak.
The origin of the Freakshow genetic line is linked to the legend of an American monk named Perry from the Big Sur area on the Californian coast. He grew a strain called Big Sur Holy Weed, which he reportedly used to treat drug addicts. Crossing this strain with Banana OG from Santa Cruz produced the Holy Banana variety. Freakshow is then the result of crossing Holy Banana with Pineapple Express.
Freakshow seeds are now available exclusively through the American seed bank Humboldt Seed Company. The strain contains trace amounts of CBD and a medium THC content, and its yields are comparable to standard cultivars. Freakshow’s terpene profile is a blend of pine and lime and is reminiscent of the classic Trainwreck variety.
Ducksfoot / Frisian Duck
The name Ducksfoot refers to the atypical leaf shape of this strain, which is characterised by fused leaf blades resembling a duck’s footprint. The variety originates from Australia, where it was created in the late 1990s by breeder Wally Duck.
The strain with fused leaves was introduced to the world by the Dutch seed bank Dutch Passion, which sells Frisian Duck seeds and an autoflowering version under the name Auto Duck. These strains were created by crossing Ducksfoot and Frisian Dew. The main feature of both cultivars is the fused leaves, but as the plant matures, some phenotypes also begin to produce classic leaves.
The most prominent terpenes in Frisian Duck’s profile are pinene and limonene. These are underlined by earthy undertones with a slight peppery finish, a combination typical of classic Dutch strains. The smoke tends to be less sweet and drier than that of modern dessert strains. Frisian Duck is a moderately potent strain with trace CBD content.
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ABC (Australian Bastard Cannabis)
This wild-growing rare strain, found only in Australia, is one of the greatest mysteries in cannabis history. Small cannabis plants with parsley-like leaves were first discovered in the 1970s in the Australian wilderness. They were probably descendants of European cannabis brought to Australia in the 19th century.
Not many people devote themselves to breeding ABC, for a simple reason. The gene for the atypical leaf shape is recessive, so when ABC is crossed with a strain with ordinary leaves, the result is a plant with classic leaves. To preserve the mutated leaves, two ABC plants must therefore be crossed, which, given this strain’s low potency, does not produce the best results.
ABC seeds are relatively rare, but they can be found online, usually from breeders in Australia. According to their descriptions, the plants are rather sativa-dominant with a long flowering time exceeding 10 weeks. The aroma is described as citrusy.
Dr. Grinspoon
Our list of unusual cannabis strains would certainly not be complete without Dr. Grinspoon, the family jewel of the Dutch seed bank Barney’s Farm. This legendary sativa, named after the equally famous Dr Lester Grinspoon, was an internet star long before the rise of social media, back in the era of discussion forums. You may ask why?
Dr. Grinspoon is a pure sativa with an absurdly long flowering time, often exceeding 100 days, and is renowned for its uncontrollable growth. In short, the cultivar refuses to stop growing long after the switch to flowering, and when it does flower, it produces long, sparse flowers on thin stems, so the yield is not high either.
Despite the difficulty of cultivation, cannabis connoisseurs swear by this strain. According to them, Dr. Grinspoon is characterised by unique energising effects. The terpene profile is fruity, with notes of lemon and tropical fruit and a hint of pine. You can get Dr. Grinspoon seeds only from Barney’s Farm, although their availability is often limited.
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