Alien Labs Permanent Shade
Permanent Marker x Nightshade #40
Alien Labs may be available in other states like Arizona and Florida, but it still calls California home and continues to unveil the newest flavors to the public, including this year’s entry into the Flower Issue, Permanent Shade. In a novel twist, this strain actually combines Connected’s secret recipe winner Nightshade with Permanent Marker. Surprisingly fruity on the initial nose, there’s also an almost earthy bite at the edge of your nose as well. After the grind, that bite evolves into a gassy edge while the fruit goes straight to fruit snacks. Even though the dry pull still had that fruit, the smoke gave us a creamy candy and cleanser flavor on the exhale. We asked the lead alien, Ted Lidie, what he thought of Permanent Shade, and this E.T. OG told Leaf that the high is best described as “wooop wooo.” –Matt Jackson (@actionmattjackson)
@alienlabs | @alienlabs2069 | @returnofthealien | alienlabs.org
Bosky Gumosa
Black Bubblegum #33 x Mimosa
Bosky is a relatively newer name on the California Cannabis scene, but one that’s proven it can go toe-to-toe with the state’s leading cultivators. Founder Ryan Clark started Bosky with 20 years of Cannabis growing experience under his belt, as well as a proprietary fertilizer blend to keep his plants healthy and happy. Leaf’s own David Downs suggested their Gumosa for the 2026 list. It’s a combination of Black Bubblegum #33 and Mimosa. Right from the jump, you get so much citrus that you might not notice the Black Bubblegum until you smell how the finish isn’t sharp, but instead rounded out by a light, candy finish. This is a mixture that flips when you crush up a bud, giving sweet waves, followed by lime and orange with a bit of mango. –Matt Jackson
@bosky.genetics | boskygenetics.com
Cam Coconut Milk
Oreoz x Lemon Icee
Leaf readers might recognize CAM from our Culture Issue, where we interviewed founder Anna Willey. With multiple dialed-in facilities pushing out a wide selection of flavors, this team not only consistently rocks new crosses but keeps bringing fans longtime hitters from their collection as well. Coming out of Sacramento, one of CAM’s newest flavors is Coconut Milk, a mix of Lemon Mints and Icee Sherbet (Lemon Mints x Icee Sherbet). This one has Oreoz’s boulder-like bud structure and gives off a creamy, gassy aroma that carries a lemon cleaner note at the top. The flavor here is creamy and sweet, with only a hint of lemon and a clean, even smoke. With a look that’s impossible to pass up, we expect this to rank as one of CAM’s 2026 greatest hits. –Matt Jackson
@camstr007 | @camsupplyco | camdispensary.com
Compound Genetics Mora Azul
Blueberry Cruffin x Pavé
Always pushing toward the bleeding edge of Cannabis genetics, Compound Genetics consistently pushes out vibrant flower from its intensive pheno hunts. This year, they put together a breeding project, with help from Umma Sonoma, to cross a variety of cultivars with Pavé, their famed cross of Paris OG and The Menthol. We got to check out a handful of the winners and loved the Mora Azul, which crossed Blueberry Cruffin with Pavé. The dark green and frosted purple nugs showcase dessert-strain sweetness with strong herbal hints and some gas from the Pave parentage. According to our sources at Compound, you can find some genetics from this most recent pheno hunt being grown by Umma as well as Maven Genetics. –Tom Bowers (@megabombtom2.0)
Connected Gascotti
(SFV x RC14) x Biscotti
Meet California’s purveyors of designer weed. With a whole collection of hits, Connected is keeping that reputation on lock with Gascotti. Malique Parish, Connected’s brand manager, told us that the RC14 in Gascotti’s genetics refers to Red Cup, a pheno that was part of that original hunt that produced Biscotti; something that was a take on some of the original batches of Biscotti, with way more gas in the mix. As a result, Gascotti is all those doughy notes you love, blanketed by layers of household cleanser and gas that just keep rolling in like the tide. Somehow, on the grid and the dry pull, you’ll find a sweetness that’s both surprising and enjoyable. We picked up the exclusive first batch from Connected’s flagship store, but if this Gascotti is any indicator, 2026 is looking good for Connected. –Matt Jackson
@connected.california | connectedcannabisco.com
Doja Neon Wormz
SFV x Z BX2 #10
When the driver behind the launch of neoclassic strains like RS-11, Zoap and Permanent Marker drops new genetics, take note. Doja originally released Neon Wormz as a seed drop for MJ Berlin 2025. It’s a cross between a male Z BX2 and a Sour SFV female, No. 10 in a pheno hunt completed at Preferred Gardens using seeds from Doja’s breeding project with Duke of Erb. Sour Wormz is a beautiful, frosted green flower with a rich, gassy front end and a hint of sour candy. “It’s one of my favorite smokes right now,” Doja founder Ryan Bartholomew told the Leaf. –Tom Bowers
Goddess Blue Nerds
Runtz x Zkittlez
We know packaging isn’t everything when it comes to good weed, but Clone Goddess goes the extra mile to make its already killer-looking Cannabis shine. With a cultivation facility in the San Fernando Valley, Clone Goddess is a woman-owned cultivation venture started by Gina Kang. Started about six years ago, their website states how they are constantly seeking excellence for Goddess, as well as their other brands, XOTX and Carats. Blue Nerds is a great example of the compact, spire-like candy strains that have become incredibly popular with today’s Cannabis consumers. Covered in crystals and mottled with dark green and purple hues, the buds have a lot of that Runtz aroma right from the jar, plus sugary candy mixed with intense fruit when you grind it up. We tried this a few different ways and really enjoyed the taste as a Brothers Broadleaf blunt. –Matt Jackson
Green Boyz Zoap Dropper OG
Zoap x Frank Bank OG
This industry is built on collabs, so when we got our hands on this hand-trimmed, small-batch indoor from Green Boyz — a new label out of Southern California that’s collaborating with LA heavyweights Nameless Genetics as well as Lumpy’s Flowers out of Sacramento — we had to check it out. A dense, chunky cross of the modern staple Zoap with Frank Bank OG, this dark purple flower is cultivated by the team at Lumpy’s, and it flaunts an earthy, spicy flavor with abundance. This is a heady smoke, and it’s definitely worth rolling up for your evening relaxation session. –Tom Bowers
@greenboyzcalifornia | green-boyz.us
Greenline Orange Tree
24k Gold x Orange Valley OG
Suggested by our group of talented contributors, Greenline is known for breeding strains like Bananimals and Orange Tree. Its hydroponic facility sits in Monterey on the central coast. We wanted to showcase their award-winning citrus strain, Orange Tree. Bred in 2014 as a cross of 24k Gold and Orange Valley OG, this is fragrant flower with a lot of the visual characteristics of an OG, but with immense citrus notes that lay heavy over a slightly spicy earthiness. Don’t leave the lid off the jar if your visitors don’t know you smoke weed, and if they do, treat them to some of that quintessential orange flavor that coats your whole mouth and delivers a very upbeat and energizing high. – Matt Jackson
@gogreenline | gogreenline.com
Greens Crew Caddie Cookies
Georgia Pie x GSC
A newer addition to the central California Cannabis scene, Greens Crew has actually been cultivating weed for many years. Readers and contributors suggested Greens Crew, and after smoking some, we can see why. With a golf-inspired theme, their weed has names like 19th Hole. Our selection was the Caddie Cookies, a strain that crosses the Forum Cut of GSC with the flavorful Georgia Pie strain. Caddie Cookies has a great bud structure; it’s dense, but with a touch of something wild. This strain is loud. The smell has an entry layer of fruit and dough, but after you crack in, a rush of rubber cement and menthol fills not only the room, but your whole brain. After lighting up a joint, there’s a similar journey of give-and-take between that Georgia Pie and that Forum Cut Cookies, one that produces a robust smoke and a relaxing high. –Matt Jackson
@greenscrew | greenscrewandco.com
Lumpy’s Flowers Strawberry Peelz
Wusah x Jane Dough
Another of Sacramento’s bedrock Cannabis producers, this is the brand that brought you Apple Fritter. Strawberry Peelz represents a blended smoothie of Lumpy’s flavors. Wusah is Lumpy’s Sour Apple Haze x Cherry Meringue, while Jane Dough brings together their Frank Bank and Cherry Jane strains. What comes out is something fruity that’s a little bit like inhaling from a fresh bag of gummy worms. The flavor is a soft, even fruitiness that finishes with a hint of dough. With striking orange hairs and a bit of funk buried under the peel, this is an uplifting and energizing strain, which Lumpy himself said has been a hit with fans since dropping almost a year ago. –Matt Jackson
@lumpstatus | @lumpysflowers | lumpysflowers.com
Miami Mango GTopia
Gary Payton x Ztopia (Gelato 33 x Zkittlez)
Whether it’s growing Cannabis, podcasting or engineering lighting, Miami Mango doesn’t do it half-assed. Known for their work with the Mango strain as well as some amazing looking Gelato 41, we were hypnotized by the sweet, slightly astringent smoke on this GTopia they submitted. Grown in their state-of-the-art facility in Sacramento, Josh Barker, Mango’s director of cultivation, said GTopia was bred by a Bay Area nursery and brings together the Ztopia (Gelato 33 x Zkittlez) they grow with Gary Payton. When you crush a bud, there’s this burst of gas, then cream and then Z, which lets you know you’re in for a wild ride. Being a GP fan, I really enjoyed the sweeter, grapefruit-esque back end to the beloved flavor. –Matt Jackson
@miami_mango_ca | @mangoafterhours | miamimangoca.com
Originals Skywalker OG
Skywalker x OG
A true family brand, Los Angeles’ Originals has put in the time to cultivate their company and bring out the best in hard-to-wrangle strains, like King Louis, Jack Herer and SFV OG. At a time when everyone is focusing on producing candy packs or finding that new-new, Originals remains true to its name, submitting something to remind us how enduring the classic strains are. The bud structure in this Skywalker OG has a lot of that old-school look, taking you back to a time of green weed and JNCO jeans. The buds smell like a sweet lime icing with an OG edge. The flavor is very forward, with that sweet, uplifting quality at the end of the exhale. This is the kind of stuff every smoker should have a jar of in the stash. –Matt Jackson
@originalsfamilyfarms | originalsca.com
Planta 11 Coffins
Coffin Candy x RS11
This brand was born out of a friendship between two MMA fighters. Based out of Los Angeles, Planta came out swinging with 11 Coffins as one of its very first offerings. Since then, it’s gone on to become one of the highest lauded of their six regular-rotation strains. The nugs are compact with shades of purple and orange that give off bag appeal for days. Bred by Duke of Erb, this was from a 400-seed pheno hunt of Coffin Candy x RS11. On the James Loud podcast, Planta’s co-owner Derek said that partner Freddie Bigg smoked every single pheno to pick 11 Coffins. Originally known as #178, it has a discernible blend of sweet and funky gas that starts strong, but then quickly shows you a sweeter side with that RS11. –Matt Jackson
@planta_ca | plantacannabisco.com
Preferred Gardens Apricotz
Znackz x Lazer Gun
It’s hard to find a team crushing harder right now than Preferred. Whether it’s their prize for best Z hybrid at last year’s Zalympics, the gold championship ring they won at the 2025 Billy’s for Rookie of the Year strain D’lish or the massive cash prize they took home from Proper Smoke League this year with their MLZ, Dave Polley and his team are setting high water marks. Apricotz is a strain Polley said Preferred bred by using their Znackz and Lazergun cultivars. Written out, the genetics are (Chauffeur x Runtz) x (Georgia Pie x Zkittlez). Apricotz has those bold orange pistils and purple hues at the base of the buds. The apricot and nectarine flavors you get from dry pull are sensational. When you finally ignite the joint, we agree with Polley that the flavor that blossoms is ripe stone fruit and gassy cream. –Matt Jackson
@preferred_gardens | preferredgardens.com
Sense Yuzu Sour
(Orange Sherbet x OZ Kush F2) x Gastro Pop
It’s no secret that we think Sense is one of the Bay’s absolute best Cannabis producers. Ever since bursting onto the scene at Transbay Challenge, Sense continues to amaze us with everything it grows. Runner-up for Best Citrus at the 2025 California Leaf Bowl, this Yuzu Sour creates a triple threat by bringing together Orange Sherbet, OZ Kush and Gastro Pop. This heater bred by Compound Genetics is tailored to ignite your senses. Expect waves of a sugary, unconventional citrus odor to come rushing right out of the jar and stick around all through the exhale. That, combined with the floral moments on the dry pull, immediately told us why this is called Yuzu. Besides having a constantly strong bag appeal, this strain has buds that are grip tape for your fingertips. –Matt Jackson
Snowtill Grape Jack
Orange Valley Skunk x Lime Haze
As one of the finest living soil, no-till indoor cultivation operations around, Snowtill pushes out heat on a constant basis. We’ve been huge fans of their Pie Scream, Animal X-ing and super-funky Gouda, but for this year’s Flower Issue, we decided to shine a spotlight on something both new and classic from the San Francisco-based grow. A cross between Orange Valley Skunk and Lime Haze, this is an exclusive pheno to Snowtill, and it cranks up the top notes on the fader, with bright, zesty Jack terps that make you think of the sunny days that are just around the corner. The flower itself is beautiful, with stretchy buds covered in sparkly trichomes and orange pistils reaching for the sky. –Tom Bowers
@snowtillorganics / snowtill.com
True Classic Doo-Ye
(Larry OG BX x Oreoz x Gelato 41) x Lemon Cherry Runtz
We’re proud to bring you a flavor that is just being released. Doo-Ye was created and bred completely in-house in Los Angeles by the True Classic OG team. Danny from True Classic OG said Doo-Ye is something nobody else has on the market: “We took the best qualities of different plants that we liked and different flavors and combined them into this one genetic.” The description True Classic OG gives its online audience is a flavor that brings together master kush with a candy gas — something which feels pretty spot on after smoking a joint. The smell and flavor have a Kush quality that, by the time you’ve wrapped your palate around it, turns into a ‘roided-up LCR sweetness, just like Bruce Banner transforming into the Hulk. –Matt Jackson
@trueclassic.og / trueclassicog.com
Turtle Pie Saturday Cartoonz
Sunday Paper x Z Topia
For nearly a decade, Turtle Pie has been a plant-focused passion project led by co-founder Matt “Turtle” Morgan, who’s currently partnered with Drew Coggio from Green Dawg to push out top-tier indoor out of their Sacramento facility. We got our hands on a yet-unreleased specimen called Saturday Cartoonz, which is a cross between Turtle Pie’s Sunday Paper and Z Topia. Set to drop in 2026, this dense, dark green flower brings the gas, with some creamy notes overlaid with hints of candy. If this is any indicator, we’re excited to see what else Turtle plans to bring to market this year. –Tom Bowers
