Sometimes referred to as ‘Grinch Fingers’, long fluffy and often times loose and airy Sativa…
You’ve heard of Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa—but what the hell is Cannabis Ruderalis?
Until recently, Ruderalis was ignored by growers and breeders because of its super low THC. But that’s starting to change. Thanks to one game-changing trait—autoflowering—Cannabis Ruderalis is finally getting the love it deserves in the weed world.
Ruderalis is a ruderal species—a type of plant that’s the first to pop up in disturbed soil or harsh environments. It originated in the wilds of Russia, Poland, and the Czech Republic, spreading all the way to China and the Caucasus mountains.
This stuff is tough. Ruderalis plants are short, rarely over two feet tall, and have smaller leaves compared to Indica or Sativa. They weren’t bred for potency—they were born to survive.
Here’s where Ruderalis shines: it doesn’t rely on light cycles to start flowering. Unlike Indica or Sativa strains that need 12/12 light cycles to bloom, Ruderalis plants flower automatically once they hit a certain age.
That’s huge. Breeders cross Ruderalis with high-THC strains to create autoflowering hybrids—weed plants that don’t need finicky light schedules to produce chunky buds. This makes them perfect for outdoor grows and quick harvests.
Even though pure Ruderalis has little THC (think hemp-level weak), its autoflowering genetics are gold. When crossed with potent strains, the result is:
Some popular Ruderalis autoflower strains include:
Pure Ruderalis isn’t worth smoking unless you’re into mild, no-effect weed. It has very low THC and delivers almost zero high. But when it’s bred into autoflower hybrids, you’ll get the same effects as the original Indica or Sativa—just with all the autoflowering perks.
If you’re growing autoflowers or Ruderalis-dominant hybrids, here are a few tips to get the most out of your grow:
Back in 2014, researcher John McPartland from GW Pharmaceuticals stirred the pot at the International Cannabis Research Society. He argued that the guy who originally classified cannabis—Richard Evans Schultes—got it wrong in the ’70s.
Here’s the twist:
Confused? You’re not alone. But hey, welcome to weed history. For more, check out this peer-reviewed study on cannabis taxonomy.
In the U.S., Ruderalis falls under the same laws as all cannabis. Pure Ruderalis isn’t typically grown commercially, but hybrids are often legal in states with medical or adult-use laws.
Not on its own. It contains very low THC. But hybrids that include Ruderalis genetics and are bred with Indica or Sativa strains can absolutely get you lifted.
Technically yes, but it’s not worth it. Autoflowers don’t have a vegetative stage to grow roots before flowering—so clones don’t really work well. Stick to seeds.
Yes. Its low-THC, high-resilience traits make it great for breeding high-CBD autoflower strains for medical use.
Absolutely. Just keep your lights on a consistent cycle (18/6 or 20/4) and watch for quick growth. They’re small, fast, and stealthy—perfect for closets or tents.
Ever seen a wild Ruderalis plant? Or tried growing autoflowers?
We’d love to hear about it—drop a comment below and let us know your experience. And if this guide helped, tag a friend or share it to spread the autoflower knowledge.
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View Comments
hey ! thanks for the ruderalis article! very interesting and informational. i was trying to find thc and cbd levels for cannabis ruderalis all te over the web.. is it possible to tell the avarage precentage of CBD and THC levels in cannabis ruderalis?
thank you!
I too appreciate this article. I decided to give the ruderalis a chance this outdoor season not really knowing much about it except that it did well in VT,s climate. I also share the same delema as to what strain my girls are paired with?, if any, oh boy that would suck much time and effort for nothing. This question derived from me being quite worried weather the beauties will be for smoking or the compost. Thank you I hope we can receive an answer because the flowers just keep growing getting longer and fatter and they stink a sweet blue cheesy awesomeness if any sense was made in that comment. Thanks. Friends