Shining Silver Haze: The Champion’s Haze
Shining Silver Haze: The Champion’s Haze
Strain Overview
Type: Sativa-Dominant Hybrid (75% Sativa / 25% Indica)
Breeder: Royal Queen Seeds (RQS)
Lineage: Haze x (Skunk x Northern Lights)
Market Status: The "Gold Medalist"; Shining Silver Haze is Royal Queen Seeds’ iteration of one of the most decorated strains in history: Super Silver Haze. In the late 90s, this genetic lineup dominated the High Times Cannabis Cup, winning three years in a row. It is considered the "Holy Trinity" of Old School breeding—combining the soaring high of Haze with the yield of Skunk and the resilience of Northern Lights. RQS stabilized this legend to ensure that home growers could produce connoisseur-grade Haze in a reasonable timeframe.
THC Content: High (21%)
Dominant Terpenes: Myrcene, Limonene, Pinene, Caryophyllene
Key Effects: Instant Euphoria, Cerebral Energy, "Head in the Clouds," Mild Body Relaxation
Shining Silver Haze is the reason Haze strains became mainstream.
Before this strain, growing a Haze was a nightmare—they took 16 weeks to flower and grew uncontrollably tall. By fusing the tropical Haze genetics with robust Indicas, breeders created a plant that kept the electric, psychedelic high but grew like a manageable hybrid. It is widely regarded as the best "All-Rounder" Sativa on the market, offering a high that is potent enough for veterans but sweet enough for beginners.
History and Lineage: The 90s Trinity
This strain is a masterclass in genetic engineering. It brings together the three titans of 1990s cannabis.
The Haze: The Sativa engine. It provides the cerebral, trippy high and the sweet citrus flavor. However, pure Haze is wispy and hard to grow.
The Skunk: The yield booster. Crossed into the line to reduce the height and increase the bud density.
The Northern Lights: The anchor. This heavy Afghan Indica was added to shorten the flowering time significantly and add a layer of protective resin (the "Silver" shine).
The Result: RQS refined this cross to create Shining Silver Haze, a plant that captures the best traits of all three parents: Haze high, Skunk yield, and Northern Lights resin.
Terpene Profile: Sweet Citrus and Earth
Shining Silver Haze steers away from the spicy/incense smell of pure Hazes (like Amnesia) and leans into a sweeter, fruitier profile.
Dominant Terpenes
Myrcene (The Sweetness): Surprisingly dominant for a Sativa. It gives the smoke a heavy, sweet, and almost mango-like quality that rounds out the sharp edges.
Limonene (The Zest): Provides the classic lemon and citrus top note that Haze lovers expect.
Pinene (The Forest): Adds a fresh pine needle scent that opens the airways.
Caryophyllene (The Spice): A background note of pepper and wood inherited from the Northern Lights.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is fragrant and inviting. It smells of sweet citrus, damp pine, and sugary fruit.
The Smoke: Very smooth. It tastes of orange zest, earthy wood, and sweet candy. It is much sweeter than Amnesia Haze.
Strain Effects: Head in the Clouds
This strain is famous for its "instant" onset.
The Experience
The Rush: You feel it before you even exhale. A surge of cerebral energy hits the forehead. Colors look brighter, and music sounds better.
The Flow: It is an excellent social lubricant. It makes you chatty, giggly, and open. It is the perfect strain for concerts or parties.
The Anchor: This is where the Northern Lights magic happens. Unlike a pure Sativa that can make you jittery, the Indica genetics provide a subtle body relaxation. You feel high, but you don't feel anxious.
The Duration: It is a long-lasting high (2–3 hours), tapering off into a mellow, happy haziness.
Best For: Concerts, creative writing, social gatherings, depression, and daytime fatigue.
Growing Shining Silver Haze: The Tamed Sativa
While it is easier than a pure Haze, it still demands respect in the grow room.
Growth Structure
The Height: It grows Tall. Indoors, it reaches 100cm – 120cm. It stretches significantly when flipped to flower.
The Yield: High. Thanks to the Skunk influence, the buds are not wispy. They are dense and heavy. Expect 600–650g/m² indoors under 600W lights.
The Time: It finishes flowering in 9 to 11 weeks. This is fast for a Haze, but slower than an Indica. Be patient—the last two weeks are when the "Silver" trichomes really stack on.
The Light: It loves light. It can handle high intensities (PPFD).
The Training: It is practically mandatory to use LST (Low Stress Training) or SCROG. You need to control the height and open up the canopy to let light reach the lower branches.
Grower’s Tip: The "Shining" in the name refers to the trichome coverage. To maximize this frost, drop the humidity below 40% in the final 3 weeks. This stresses the plant slightly, forcing it to produce more resin as a defense mechanism against the dry air.
Final Verdict: The Champion’s Haze
Shining Silver Haze is royalty. It represents the pinnacle of Dutch breeding, where the wild Sativa was finally tamed for the indoor grower without losing its soul. It offers a sweet, citrusy smoke and a high that is the perfect balance of energy and calm. If you want to experience the strain that defined the Golden Era of Amsterdam coffeeshops, this is the silver bullet.
You should choose Shining Silver Haze if:
You love Haze effects (Uplifting/Trippy).
You want Sweet/Citrus flavors.
You have patience (10+ weeks flowering).
You want a Social/Party strain.
Score: 9.6/10 (The Sativa Standard)