The story of Hashplant begins in the fertile valleys of southern Afghanistan, particularly around Kandahar, a region renowned for cannabis and hashish production long before the 1970s. Generations of Afghan farmers had been selectively breeding short, stout, Indica-type cannabis (sometimes termed “Afghanica”) for maximum resin content. These bushy Afghan landraces were prized for charas (sieved hashish) production, yielding thick coatings of trichomes on dense flowers. In 1971, Harvard ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes traveled to Kandahar at the behest of enterprising smugglers, and there he formally identified the Afghan broad-leaf varietal as a distinct Cannabis indica species. By this time, Kandahar’s potent hashish cultivars – essentially “hash plants” – had become legendary among those seeking the world’s strongest cannabis. These local inbred lines (often maintained by particular farming families) embodied the ultimate resin-producing indica, with glossy dark-green foliage, compact stature, and remarkably heavy resin output.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Western adventurers on the overland Hippie Trail penetrated into Afghanistan’s cannabis heartland. Notably, members of the California-based Brotherhood of Eternal Love – the so-called “Hippie Mafia” – established hashish supply lines out of Kandahar. These intrepid travelers smuggled Afghan seeds and hash back to the U.S., Canada, and Europe. By 1971–72, primo Afghan cannabis genetics were flowing into the West, just ahead of geopolitical events that soon cut off access. In 1973, Afghanistan’s new government, under U.S. pressure, outlawed hashish production, ending the era of open trade. Then, decades of war ensued after 1979, making the pre-war Afghan hashplants that had been collected even more coveted. Veteran smugglers like Howard Marks (later known as “Mr. Nice”) and the Brotherhood considered these Afghan seeds invaluable contraband. The introduction of Indica (Afghan) genetics to the West in the ’70s revolutionized cannabis cultivation, shortening flowering times and enabling potent “homegrown” far beyond the mountain ranges. Many classic modern strains trace their roots to these Afghan imports – the “hash plant” type was the template for a new wave of heavy-duty indica hybrids that would soon emerge.
Some of the Afghan seeds from Kandahar found their way into gardens in California by the mid-1970s. In the Bay Area and beyond, growers germinated these seeds and were astonished by the resinous, sedative Afghani plants. One group of San Francisco hippie growers numbered their different phenotypes, and the “#13” phenotype quickly stood out as something special. This 13th selection, later simply dubbed Hashplant #13 (HP-13), became legendary. “Those hippies in the ’70s brought back [Hashplant] from Afghanistan to San Francisco,” recalls one cultivator, noting that the HP-13 clone was available only through a close-knit circle. True HP-13 buds were fuzzy with trichomes and emitted an unmistakably pungent odor described as “garlic, cat piss, and mothballs” – oddly alluring to aficionados.
According to cannabis historians, the pure indica strain behind Hashplant #13 originated in a remote Afghan valley where it had been inbred for generations by a proud local family. When Western travelers on the hippie hashish trail exported this seed stock to America in the late ’70s, it was grown out in California, and HP-13 was born. The strain initially stayed in Northern California, gaining renown for its unparalleled flavor and effects, before eventually making its way to the East Coast. By the 1980s, HP-13 had become an underground legend – in New York City, it was so rare and sought-after that it reportedly sold for upwards of $8,000 a pound, a price “twice the price of gold” at the time. Connoisseurs praised HP-13’s “erotic” complexity of flavors – a shifting palette of skunky, garlicky, spicy, and hashy notes that dance on the palate long after exhale. Just a single toke could turn seasoned smokers into instant “Hashplant heads,” and tales spread of friendships forged (and nearly lost) in the fierce pursuit of this elite clone.
Other phenotypes from the Afghan seed batches were also preserved by enterprising growers. A Hashplant #1 (HP-1) clone circulated in California by the late ’70s, reputed to be another pure Kandahar Afghan selection. The provenance of HP-1 is less documented, but some old-timers claim it was a 1970s Afghan import as well. However, it was Nevil Schoenmakers hybrid of Hashplant and Northern Lights #1 that made the famous Hashplant #1 cultivar responsible for notable genetics. Photographs of the Hashplant #1 cut show a squat, broad-leafed plant not unlike Bubba Kush, suggesting a deeply indica lineage. Both HP-1 and HP-13 remained clone-only treasures, shared quietly among cultivators in the know. Their powerful sedation and heavy resin made them darlings of the nascent medical marijuana scene and precursors to many modern hybrids.
By the early 1980s, Hashplant genetics had also taken root in the Pacific Northwest. The coastal cannabis communities of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia – bolstered by Vietnam War era veterans and hippie back-to-the-land types – were quick to adopt Afghan indicas for outdoor growing. In fact, a lime-green “BC Hashplant” became a staple on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, grown outdoors for decades as a reliable hash-making strain. Amid this scene, a particularly prized PNW Hashplant clone caught the attention of an ambitious young breeder named Nevil Schoenmakers.
Nevil, operating “The Seed Bank” out of the Netherlands, was on a mission in the 1980s to acquire the best North American genetics. Through West Coast contacts, he obtained a Pacific NorthWest Hash Plant cutting circa 1984–85. To create a stable seed line from this clone, Nevil crossed it with one of his foundational males – Northern Lights #1, another pure Afghan indica. The result was released in Holland as the Hash Plant strain, an almost pure indica hybrid combining the original Hashplant’s raw potency with Northern Lights’ vigor. Sensi Seed Bank (which later absorbed Nevil’s operation) described Hash Plant as a fast-flowering (40–45 day), compact strain absolutely plastered in resin, ideal for hash-making and indoor cultivation. In other words, Nevil had distilled the Kandahar indica into seed form for the wider world.
The Sensi Hash Plant became a cornerstone of indica breeding. Growers who popped those seeds in the late ’80s found phenotypes that echoed the legendary clone. One famous example is the “Cuddlefish Hashplant” – a cutting selected by an American grower known as Capt. Cuddlefish from a late-1980s Sensi Hashplant seed pack. That Cuddlefish HP clone, acquired around 1986–88, is still said to be in circulation and regarded as a faithful representation of the original PNW Hashplant’s qualities.
Meanwhile, Nevil himself recognized an exceptional individual from his 1987–88 Hash Plant seed crop. In 1989, he introduced the world to “Skelly Hashplant”, affectionately nicknamed “The Puck.” Skelly was a particular female Hashplant (from the PNW Hashplant × NL#1 lineage) with such outstanding traits that she quickly became a sought-after clone in her own right. Bred and selected by Nevil, the Skelly/Puck cut was named in ’89 and hailed as a “genetic foremother” of modern indicas. This heirloom Hashplant exuded a pungency of onion-like body odor and burning rubber – a nose-curling funk matched only by its crushing “knock-you-down” stone. Growers loved that Skelly could yield heavily (golf-ball buds everywhere) and showed robust pest and mold resistance outdoors. Through the late ’80s and ’90s, the Skelly Hashplant (often just called “The Puck”) spread among elite clone circles, even finding fans as far afield as the U.S. East Coast. Decades later, this original Hashplant hybrid is still preserved and shared by devotees as a living piece of cannabis history.
Nevil’s work with Hashplant did not stop at the PNW clone. In his quest for the ultimate indica, he combined Hashplant with another mythical variety: G13. The G13 strain was itself a legend – allegedly a U.S. government-bred “super-potent” indica liberated from a research facility in the late 1960s. By the late ’80s, Nevil had sourced a G13 cutting and decided to cross this notorious government indica with his Hashplant stock, creating what may be the era’s most formidable indica hybrid. The G13 × Hashplant cross was initially sold via The Seed Bank, but it truly gained fame as an inbred line under its eventual name, “Mr. Nice.” The strain was so dubbed by Sensi Seeds in the 1990s to honor Howard Marks, one of the world’s most prolific cannabis smugglers who went by the alias “Mr. Nice”. Mr. Nice G13 Hashplant inherited brutal potency from G13 and the sticky-fast flowering traits of Hashplant, quickly becoming a favorite for growers seeking maximum yield of knockout buds.
Cultivators noted that Mr. Nice’s 88 G13/Hashplant lineage produced a remarkably uniform indica phenotype – short, thick, and resin-drenched – finishing in roughly 8 weeks. So influential was this hybrid that many modern breeders reference it simply by the shorthand “’88 G13HP.” In fact, an original 1988 batch of G13×Hashplant seeds was preserved and inbred by a collective of growers (led by old-school breeder NDNguy) as a stable IBL line, with the agreement that no one would commercialize the pure seed stock. This preserved ’88 G-13 Hashplant has been used as a breeding cornerstone – an heirloom male lending indica heft and frost to countless modern hybrids. (Seedfinder data shows over a hundred descendant strains that incorporate 88 G13 Hashplant genetics.) To this day, respected breeders like Bodhi Seeds tap the “G13HP” line (often labeled “88G13/HP”) to impart old-school Afghan potency, yield, and flavor into new crosses. The Mr. Nice hybrid thus ensured that Hashplant DNA – already famed in its pure form – would propagate widely throughout the cannabis gene pool via G13 crossbreeds.
By the 1990s, “Hashplant” had become a byword for elite indica genetics, and several regional or clone-only offshoots solidified their place in cannabis lore. One such example is the “UW Hashplant”, also known as UW Purple or UW Black 84. This strain emerged in the Pacific Northwest and comes with its own superhero-like origin myth: according to popular rumor, a particularly potent indica plant was stolen from a University of Washington medical research lab in the early 1990s. As the story goes, a rogue grad student absconded with the experimental plant – a pure indica hashplant specimen – and shared it with underground growers. True or not, the UW clone did appear in Seattle’s medical marijuana scene by the mid-90s, boasting deep purple-hued buds and astonishing potency. Almost entirely indica, UW Hashplant delivers a sedative, numbing high that became hugely popular for pain relief and insomnia among patients. With a mix of sweet tropical fruit and spice in its aroma, the UW Hashplant demonstrated that these Afghan-derived strains could pair medical-grade effects with crowd-pleasing flavors. It earned a reputation as a top-shelf indica in dispensaries, further cementing Hashplant’s value in the emerging medical cannabis market.
Meanwhile, in British Columbia, outdoor growers continued working with their own hashplant-bred lines. The “BC Hashplant” (sometimes just called BC Afghan) remained a fixture in coastal grow communities, selected over generations to finish in the Canadian climate. Described as a light green, hardy outdoor indica, the BC Hashplant was “the hashplant on the Sunshine Coast” for decades. Growers there, many the children of the hippie era, sustained this line as an adapted regional inbreed, ensuring a steady supply of resin-rich buds for local hash-making. Though less famous than the clone-only elites, these local hashplant varieties share the same Kandahar ancestry and illustrate how hashplant genetics took root in pockets of cannabis culture worldwide.
Even within California, variants of the Hashplant lineage popped up in hybrid form. In the 1980s a seed strain dubbed “Af-Pak” (short for Afghan-Pakistani) made the rounds – one grower recalls it producing fantastic buds virtually identical to the famed HP-13 described in the Cannabible, suggesting it may have been another expression of the same gene pool. Likewise, breeders like Soma in Amsterdam were so enamored with Hashplant’s qualities that they incorporated clone-only cuts into new creations. Soma’s strain “Hash Heaven,” for example, was bred by crossing the HP-13 clone with Lavender, blending that garlic-hash pungency with sweet floral notes. As Soma recounted, he once rolled a joint mixing HP13 and Lavender flowers just to savor the combined terpene profile he was after. The resulting hybrid carried forward the taste of Hashplant to yet another generation of cannabis enthusiasts.
Few cultivars have had as enduring an influence on cannabis breeding as Hashplant. Decades after its introduction, Hashplant’s heavy indica traits – raw potency, resin production, compact size, and rapid bloom – remain highly sought after by breeders aiming to improve newer strains. In the legal era of the 2000s and 2010s, numerous seed companies reintroduced Afghan hashplant genetics, either by resurrecting vintage stock or collecting new landrace seeds from Afghanistan. (For instance, Barney’s Farm marketed an “Afghan Hash Plant” from 1970s Mazar-i-Sharif seed stock, underscoring the continued fascination with these genetics.) Sensi Seeds still sells their classic Hash Plant variety, preserving the PNW Hashplant × NL#1 hybrid for contemporary growers.
Importantly, the medical cannabis community has come to deeply appreciate what Hashplant-type strains offer. Indica-dominant hashplants are “long prized for [their] medicinal properties,” known especially for inducing profound “couch-lock” relaxation. Patients suffering from chronic pain, insomnia, muscle spasms, and other conditions have found relief in Hashplant’s potent, narcotic effects. A strong Hashplant is considered a perfect evening or nightcap strain – its sedative high can lull even a hardened smoker to sleep. This therapeutic power is directly tied to the rich cocktail of cannabinoids and terpenes that Afghan hashplants produce, including high THC levels (often 15–20% even in older strains) alongside terpene profiles laden with soothing myrcene, caryophyllene, and humulene. The result is an earthy, spicy aroma and a body-heavy effect that has proven invaluable for those seeking natural pain management or respite from anxiety. It’s no surprise that many modern medicinal strains owe a genetic debt to Hashplant – whether it’s the Purple Kushes and Master Kushes of dispensaries (which carry Afghan hashplant heritage), or newer CBD-rich indicas that use Afghan lines for stability.
On the breeding front, Hashplant genetics continues to shape cutting-edge hybrids. The preserved ’88 G13 Hashplant line is a prime example, serving as a building block in dozens of contemporary crosses. Breeders like Bodhi Seeds have famously used the “88G13HP” in combinations with Chem Dog, OG Kush, and countless others to create new strains that deliver old-school indica punch with modern twists. Likewise, Top Dawg Seeds and other boutique breeders have worked with the HP-13 clone in recent years, aiming to reintroduce its singular terpene profile (that bizarrely appealing garlic-corpse odor) into new polyhybrids. Even after 40+ years, clone-only cuts like HP-13 and Skelly Hashplant are carefully kept alive by private growers and sometimes used in breeding projects – a testament to their “elite” status in the cannabis gene pool.
From its humble origins in Kandahari villages to its current mythic standing among cannabis connoisseurs, Hashplant has traveled and transformed, yet its essence remains unmistakable. It is the archetype of a heavy indica, a plant that grew in remote Afghan fields to produce hashish for bazaars, and ended up fueling innovation in modern hydroponic grow rooms and medical dispensaries worldwide. Its lineage threads through time – via hippie smugglers, outlaw breeders, and dedicated preservationists – to emerge in the present day as a living legend of cannabis. Whether in the form of a seed packet from Sensi Seeds labeled “Hash Plant,” a clandestine cutting passed among friends, or the genetic backbone of a new award-winning hybrid, the Hashplant cultivar continues to exert an outsized influence. Growers cherish it for the same reasons they always have: fast, forgiving cultivation and an end product that is uncompromisingly potent and resinous. Consumers cherish it for its deeply relaxing, therapeutic high and rich flavors of earth and spice. In an era when strains come and go with the seasons, the enduring appeal of Hashplant – in all its incarnations, from #13 to Mr. Nice, from “the Puck” to UW Purple – speaks to a timeless classic that has more than earned its place in the pantheon of cannabis history.
Danny Danko – High Times: “The Story of Kush” (2016). – Insights on Afghan cannabis history and the hippie trail; Indica’s impact on modern cultivationhightimes.comhightimes.com.
The Real Seed Company – Kandahar Landrace description (2019). – Historical notes on Kandahar’s hashish culture and Brotherhood of Eternal Love’s involvementtherealseedcompany.comtherealseedcompany.com.
Jason King – The Cannabible (2001), via ICMag forum post. – Vivid description of Hashplant #13’s origins, flavor, and mystique (excerpts cited)icmag.comicmag.com.
HeadBandit, THCFarmer Forums: “Fond memories of Hash Plant #13” (2010). – First-hand account of growing HP-13 and its unique traits; confirms 1970s Afghan seed originthcfarmer.comthcfarmer.com.
bigherb & british_hempire, MrNice Forums: “HP-13” thread (2010). – Discussion of HP-13 lineage (pure Afghani vs. Afghani×Thai rumors) and Sensi’s Hash Plant history; notes on HP#1 and Cuddlefish cutmrnice.nlmrnice.nl.
PigTail Gardens – Clone description for Skelly Hashplant aka The Puck (2021). – Details on Neville’s 1980s Hash Plant breeding (PNW Hashplant × NL#1) and the famed Skelly cut’s profilepigtailgardens.compigtailgardens.com.
SeedFinder.eu – “UW” strain entry (clone-only). – Story of the UW Hashplant clone (UW Black ’84) stolen from a research lab; noted indica effects and aromaseedfinder.eu.
Patrick, Sativa University – “Hash Plant” strain review (2024). – Overview of Sensi’s Hash Plant (Hashplant × NL#1) characteristics: fast flowering, resin, THC 13–19%, sedative usagesativauniversity.comsativauniversity.com.
SeedFinder.eu – “88 G-13 HashPlant (Mr. Nice)” entry. – Background on the 1988 G13×Hashplant line; preservation by NDNguy as a no-profit IBL for breedersseedfinder.eu.
Overgrow & ICMag Forum Archives – Various discussions (2006–2019). – Community anecdotes on BC Hashplant outdoor strainsovergrow.com, Soma’s Hash Heaven (HP13 × Lavender)icmag.com, and the continued reverence for Hashplant in cannabis culture.