What Is Ruderalis?

I remember when I first heard the term "ruderalis" mentioned among my circle of friends. It was during a smoke session with my then-boyfriend, his DJ setup crew, and a couple of exotic dancers who were working the club that night.

Just like always, his best friend, a fellow DJ, took it upon himself to produce the smokeables. He showed us the bag and asked us to take a whiff. It smelled good.

"What is that," asked a dancer. "Sativa?"

"Nope, ruderalis," he said.

I, already being stoned and never having heard of the strain category before, thought it was a joke. "What is ruderalis, man?"

Yes, that night I kind of inadvertently outed myself as a newbie to weed - and back then, I kind of was. That being said, most people think about cannabis sativa, or cannabis indica, when they start smoking. If you've been wondering what is ruderalis cannabis, or what it's good for, this article is for you.

What Is Ruderalis, Anyway?

Ruderalis is a different category of cannabis plant that's known for having three large leaves, and two small leaves. These plants, which are native to Eastern Europe, are known for having few branches and thin stems. Additionally, ruderalis plants are also way smaller than other cannabis strains, with the average plant never exceeding two feet in height.

This low-THC cannabis plant is actually a point of contention among cannabis experts. In fact, there's still some debate about what is ruderalis cannabis as a whole. Some are saying it's its own strain category, while others are saying it's an offshoot of sativa.

It's worth noting that ruderalis cannabis actually has similar THC and CBD levels to wild sativa cannabis. So, perhaps it's a wild offshoot of what we've been smoking all this time? It's still up for debate - so don't just call it sativa.

In terms of planting cannabis, many growers end up being taken by surprise when they tend to their first ruderalis plant. Unlike other kinds of cannabis like sativa, ruderalis is an "auto-flowering" plant. While most other strains can be kept in an immature state, ruderalis will flower regardless.

Typical time to maturity is a mere five to seven weeks. Once it hits maturity, you'll see ruderalis flower up regardless of how you keep it. (Awesome, no?)

Okay, What Is Ruderalis Good For?

Ruderalis strains are really popular among growers who want to create hybrids that have high CBD levels and that "autoflowering" effect. As a result, most high CBD strains of cannabis currently being manufactured by cannabis farms have a little bit of ruderalis in them.

Ruderalis, as a species, also seems to be incredibly resilient. In fact, you might even find it growing naturally in farmlands, ditches, and by the roadside. As a result, growers in urban areas usually find this discreet strain awesomely adaptable.

Aside from making autoflowering cannabis strains of sativa, you might also be wondering what ruderalis is good for - at least, in terms of smoking. That's totally reasonable.

This sweet plant is excellent for people who are leery of THC due to the potential of anxiety it can cause. Hybridizations have also created incredibly relaxing strains that have become major favorites among patients who use cannabis for jitters.