Super Skunk
Also known as: Super Skunk #1
Breeder: Sensi Seeds (originally released as The Seed Bank, 1990)
Super Skunk was the first serious project to create a next-level hybrid by crossing the groundbreaking Skunk #1 with a pure-bred, highly resinous Afghani hash plant. Released in 1990, it won the Mostly Indica Cannabis Cup immediately upon debut. Sensi Seeds describes it as a strain that 'may require more experience to smoke than she does to grow.' Nearly 35 years later it remains a benchmark indica hybrid — prized for its vigorous growth, enormous resin output, pungent old-school skunk aroma, and deeply relaxing stone. It has since mothered entire strain families including Sour Diesel and Great White Shark. Super Skunk represents a pivotal moment in cannabis breeding history. When Sensi Seeds released it in 1990, it was explicitly designed to be "Skunk #1 on steroids"—retaining the stability, uniformity, and ease of growth that made Skunk #1 the most widely grown strain in the world, while adding the weight, resin production, and physical potency of a pure Afghan hash plant. The Afghan parent was carefully selected from Sensi Seeds' collection of hash plant genetics, chosen for its ability to amplify yield and trichome density without introducing instability. Alan Dronkers (Ben Dronkers' son) was instrumental in the breeding work alongside Nevil Schoenmakers at the "Cannabis Castle" breeding facility. The strain immediately won Best Indica at the 1990 High Times Cannabis Cup—the first year the competition featured separate categories—and has continued accumulating awards across three decades, including multiple Highlife Cup wins for both the photoperiod and autoflowering versions.
Lineage & Genetics
Cross: Skunk #1 x Afghani
Skunk #1 — the foundational hybrid (Acapulco Gold x Colombian Gold x Afghani) that popularized skunky aromas worldwide and won the first Cannabis Cup in 1988. Afghani — a pure indica landrace from the Hindu Kush mountains selected from Sensi's hash plant collection for its dense resin production, compact structure, and deeply sedating body effects. The Afghani parent added roughly 40% more resin production and shortened flowering by 1–2 weeks versus Skunk #1 alone.
Terpene Profile
Myrcene —
Caryophyllene —
Pinene —
Limonene —
Humulene —
Aroma: Intensely pungent old-school skunk funk layered over a dank, earthy base. A distinctive sweet-citrus top note — often compared to mandarin orange — distinguishes it from other Skunk-family members. The nose is extremely strong during late flower; carbon filtration is essentially mandatory indoors.
Flavor: Full-mouth savoury skunkiness with an earthy undertone and a surprisingly sweet citrus finish. Growers and reviewers consistently describe it as proper old-school skunk flavour reminiscent of 1990s Amsterdam coffeeshop culture. Some phenotypes lean more toward spicy-peppery notes from the Afghani side.
Effects & Experience
Onset: Moderate — settles in within 5–10 minutes, beginning as a warm, uplifting cerebral buzz from its 20% sativa component.
The initial euphoria and mood elevation quickly give way to a deep, full-body indica stone. Physically soothing without being immediately soporific; the sativa influence keeps the experience pleasant and clear-headed at first. Progresses into heavy relaxation, couch-lock, and strong appetite stimulation.
Duration: Long-lasting; 2–3 hours of primary effects.
Commonly Reported Uses
Grower's Notes
Super Skunk is Sensi Seeds' enhanced take on the legendary Skunk #1, crossing the original Skunk with a premium Afghan hash plant to produce a strain with significantly increased potency, yield, and resin production while retaining the bulletproof grow characteristics that made Skunk #1 a global phenomenon. Released in 1990 and immediately winning the Cannabis Cup, Super Skunk has remained a cornerstone of commercial and home cultivation for over three decades. Its 80% indica / 20% sativa genetics deliver a plant that is compact, fast, and almost absurdly easy to grow.
The growth pattern is classically indica
conical in shape with thick, densely packed branches producing heavy, trichome-coated buds at virtually every node. Plants finish at 80-120 cm indoors, making Super Skunk manageable in small tents while equally at home in large commercial rooms where its uniformity simplifies canopy management. Vegetative growth is vigorous with extremely bushy, dark green foliage and pronounced horizontal branching.
Flowering Time and Harvest
Flowering time is one of Super Skunk's most attractive features: most phenotypes finish in 7 weeks (45-50 days) under 12/12, making it one of the fastest-finishing photoperiod strains available at this potency level. Some growers report up to 8-10 weeks for certain phenotypes or when pushing for maximum weight, but the typical harvest window opens early. Once flowering commences, bud development is rapid and visually dramatic—the colas swell quickly, packing on density and trichome coverage that is pure indica in character: large, heavy, and frosted.
Yield
Indoor yields are large, with properly managed plants delivering 450-550 g/m2 under adequate lighting. The strain responds exceptionally well to topping, fimming, and lollipopping—topping in particular drives significantly larger colas on the resulting secondary main branches. Extending the veg period is a simple yield lever; because the plant stays compact, longer veg produces bushier plants with more bud sites without creating height management problems. Outdoor yields are equally impressive, with plants in temperate summer conditions producing heavy harvests of large buds, and specimens in optimal conditions reaching 500-700+ g per plant. Outdoor harvest timing falls in late September to early October in the Northern Hemisphere.
Environment and Climate
Environmental requirements are forgiving. Super Skunk tolerates a wide range of conditions and recovers quickly from minor grower errors in watering, feeding, or temperature. Maintain flowering temperatures at 65-75F (18-24C) and keep humidity below 50% during late flower to protect the dense buds from mold. The strain thrives in soil, coco, and hydro, with moderate feeding requirements. It is well-suited to greenhouse cultivation, though adequate airflow must be provided in the final weeks of flowering when the dense colas are most vulnerable to moisture-related issues.
The terpene profile expresses classic Skunk character amplified by Afghan depth: pungent skunky musk with sweet citrus undertones and earthy, hash-like base notes. THC typically tests 15-20%, delivering a balanced high combining physical relaxation from the Afghan side with a creative, uplifting edge from the Skunk sativa heritage. Dry for 10-14 days and cure for at least three weeks; extended curing to 8-12 weeks deepens the sweet citrus notes and smooths the skunky sharpness.
History & Origin
Super Skunk's development began long before its 1990 release. Throughout the 1980s, Sensi breeders tested a large number of Afghani genotypes against Skunk #1 males and females, seeking the perfect blend of commercial potential, potency, and hybrid vigour. The breakthrough came when the Sensi Seed Bank gene library expanded at the end of that decade with fresh Afghanica cultivars. The winning Afghani genotype came from the 'hash plant' family — pure indica landraces bred for resin production in traditional hashish regions. It won 1st Place Mostly Indica at the 1990 High Times Cannabis Cup immediately upon release under The Seed Bank name. The strain has remained continuously available for over 35 years in regular, feminized, and autoflowering formats.
Awards & Recognition
- ●1st Place, Mostly Indica — High Times Cannabis Cup 1990 (as The Seed Bank)
- ●3rd Place, Cannabis Cup / Best Cannabis — High Times Cannabis Cup 1992
- ●2nd Place, Hydro — Highlife Cup 2015
- ●1st Place, Cannabis Highlife Cup 2012 — Autoflowering Category (Super Skunk Automatic)
- ●1st Place, Cannabis Highlife Cup 2014 — Autoflowering Category (Super Skunk Automatic)
Notable Crosses
Strains bred using Super Skunk as a parent:
Frequently Asked Questions
7 common questions about Super Skunk
What is Super Skunk and what are its genetics?
Super Skunk is a indica cannabis strain (80% Indica / 20% Sativa) bred by Sensi Seeds (originally released as The Seed Bank, 1990). It is a cross of Skunk #1 x Afghani, testing at 15–20% THC. Super Skunk was the first serious project to create a next-level hybrid by crossing the groundbreaking Skunk #1 with a pure-bred, highly resinous Afghani hash plant. Released in 1990, it won the Mostly Indica Cannabis Cup immediately upon debut.
What does Super Skunk smell and taste like?
Super Skunk's dominant terpenes are Myrcene, Caryophyllene. The aroma is described as intensely pungent old-school skunk funk layered over a dank, earthy base. a distinctive sweet-citrus top note — often compared to mandarin orange — distinguishes it from other skunk-family members. the nose is extremely strong during late flower; carbon filtration is essentially mandatory indoors.. The flavor profile features full-mouth savoury skunkiness with an earthy undertone and a surprisingly sweet citrus finish. growers and reviewers consistently describe it as proper old-school skunk flavour reminiscent of 1990s amsterdam coffeeshop culture. some phenotypes lean more toward spicy-peppery notes from the afghani side..
What are the effects of Super Skunk?
Moderate — settles in within 5–10 minutes, beginning as a warm, uplifting cerebral buzz from its 20% sativa component. The initial euphoria and mood elevation quickly give way to a deep, full-body indica stone. Physically soothing without being immediately soporific; the sativa influence keeps the experience pleasant and clear-headed at first. Duration is typically long-lasting; 2–3 hours of primary effects.. Commonly reported uses include Stress relief, Pain management, Insomnia, Appetite stimulation.
How hard is Super Skunk to grow?
Super Skunk is rated easy difficulty. It flowers in 7-8 weeks, reaches medium (80-120 cm indoor) in height, and yields 450-550 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor, outdoor, greenhouse environments.
What are the parent strains of Super Skunk?
Super Skunk is a cross of Skunk #1 and Afghani. Skunk #1 — the foundational hybrid (Acapulco Gold x Colombian Gold x Afghani) that popularized skunky aromas worldwide and won the first Cannabis Cup in 1988. Afghani — a pure indica landrace from the Hindu Kush mountains selected from Sensi's hash plant collection for its dense resin production, compact structure, and deeply sedating body effects.
What strains were bred from Super Skunk?
Super Skunk has been used as a parent in several notable crosses, including Sour Diesel, Great White Shark, Lavender, Shark Attack, Skunk Hero. Its genetics contribute to a wide range of modern cultivars.
Has Super Skunk won any cannabis awards?
Yes. Super Skunk has received recognition including 1st Place, Mostly Indica — High Times Cannabis Cup 1990 (as The Seed Bank); 3rd Place, Cannabis Cup / Best Cannabis — High Times Cannabis Cup 1992; 2nd Place, Hydro — Highlife Cup 2015.
Sources & References (22)
- Sensi Seeds — Official breeder product page (sensiseeds.com/en/cannabis-seeds/sensi-seeds/super-skunk)
- Sensi Seeds — Grow Report & Strain Story blog (sensiseeds.com/en/blog/super-skunk-grow-report-and-strain-story/)
- Sensi Seeds — '7 Skunky Strains High in Myrcene and Pinene' blog
- SeedFinder.eu — Super Skunk by Sensi Seeds (seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/super-skunk/sensi-seeds)
- SeedFinder.eu — 1990 High Times Cannabis Cup Winners
- Kind Green Buds — Super Skunk Strain Review
- Zativo — Super Skunk by Sensi Seeds
- Grower's Notes cultivation sources:
- https://sensiseeds.com/en/cannabis-seeds/sensi-seeds/super-skunk
- https://sensiseeds.com/en/feminized-seeds/sensi-seeds/super-skunk-feminised
- https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/super-skunk-grow-report-and-strain-story/
- https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/super-skunk-automatic-grow-report-indoor/
- https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/40-years-sensi-seeds/
- https://www.cannaconnection.com/strains/super-skunk
- https://blimburnseeds.com/blog/marijuana-crop-guide/how-to-grow-super-skunk-weed-strain/
- https://www.zativo.com/sensi-seeds/super-skunk
- https://marijuana-science.com/super-skunk-strain/
- https://www.leafly.com/strains/super-skunk
- https://weedmaps.com/strains/super-skunk
- https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/super-skunk
- https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-super-skunk-strain-review-n1397
- https://dutch-passion.com/en/cannabis-seeds/super-skunk
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