Hava Gardens Strain Library

First, a bit about how we classify Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid strains…
During the last 30+ years, seeds from Southern Africa, India, Hawaii, Afghanistan, Morocco, Europe, and the Caribbean have found their way to professional and hobbyist cannabis breeders, creating the cannabis plants of today—hybrid varietals that take the best attributes of plants from all over the world to create new strains that are far more potent than their ancestors.
50 years ago, Indica and Sativa were terms that referred to where strains originated from. They looked distinctive from one another because they were adapted to grow in different climates. Mostly, Sativa plants were taller and skinnier, with skinnier leaves. Indicas were shorter, with bigger leaves. Sativa plants sometimes took over 100 days to produce mature flowers, because they came from climates that didn’t freeze. Indica plants had to bring their flowers to maturity sooner, because they needed to reproduce before winter came. To some degree, Sativas and Indicas shared similarities in the highs and terpene profiles produced by their genetically similar sisters, though not always.
Here’s Where it Got Confusing…

In the early days of legalization, the terms Indica and Sativa were adopted by budtenders who were trying to describe the effects of cannabis—not how the plants grew or where they were from. Growers knew better, because they saw skinny Sativa leaves on a squat, earthy-smelling plant and fat Indica leaves on a tall that produced buds that smelled like fresh lemon. They knew the lineage of their plants, and that 99% of the strains were hybrids.

Today, the terms Indica and Sativa are almost always used incorrectly. Though we know it would be more accurate to classify strains using words like “awaken,” “ground,” “create,” and “relax,” most cannabis consumers and dispensaries prefer to stick to good ole Indica and Sativa. So after much debate, we’ve decided to adopt these terms as they are used today: “Indica-effect” strains are experienced as physically heavier and more conducive to relaxation and possibly sleep. “Sativa-effect” strains are experienced as more uplifting and energetic. “Hybrid-effect” strains are those which bridge the middle ground between the two, and are usually great for both daytime and nighttime use—for quiet or activity.