Hercules! Hercules! These hybrid buds are a blend of Hawaiian Urkle and Gupta Kush crafted by Colorado Seed Inc. A 60/40 sativa-dominant blend, Hercules offers the functional sedation of Kush with the mental alertness native to strong sativas. This all-day strain is ideal for physical activity, including, but not limited to: fighting Cerberus or eating an entire box of cereal.  

About Hercules

If you’re looking to be as strong as a Greek god, try smoking a bit of Hercules. Bred by Colorado Seed Inc., this strain is powerful and long-lasting, making it a great daytime choice. Gupta Kush and Hawaiian Urkle have produced a lovechild that’s worthy of a strong name and adoration everywhere.

A nice level of THC will greet you as you start your high, with Hercules topping out at 21% in most cases. While nugs of this strain may seem rather lackluster at first, these small piecey bundles of joy are coated with such thick, sticky resin that you’ll drool just looking at it. Flavors and aromas slightly differ here, and while both offer an earthy grape appeal, you’ll taste a tang of tropical fruit as you exhale.

Rarely do users come across a strain that’s recommended for working out or engaging in highly physical activity, but like the name entails, Hercules offers strength from the start. Your high will hit like a lightning bolt, sending your mind and body into overdrive. While it sounds a bit scary, rest assured that you’ll feel nothing but sheer bliss. Combining a positive attitude with the energy to tackle even the strongest to-do list, Hercules will help you get through your day like an absolute champ. Keep in mind that 40% of this strain does involve indica genetics, so be sure to pace yourself and get ready for relaxation at some point in the day.

Both body and mind can benefit immensely from the effects of Hercules, making stress, depression, or anxiety simply melt away. With all of your positive energy flowing, there simply won’t be room for anything less than euphoria. Individuals who struggle with pain will also find relief from this strain, allowing them to engage in normal activities and actually feel like a human again. While the boost of energy you get from Hercules is certainly powerful, it isn’t frantic, and many with ADHD have said this strain helps to keep them focused.

While this strain is strong in effects, it’s nice and gentle in the garden, acting as a great first-time plant for home cultivators. Flowering time is pretty average at around 8 to 10 weeks, and while plants won’t get overly massive, you’ll still be blessed with a decent sized yield. Experts recommend topping your plants at least once during the growing cycle for maximum results.

Sativa Dominant Hybrid – 60% Sativa / 40% Indica

THC: 18% – 21%, CBD: 1%

Hercules is a slightly sativa dominant hybrid (60% sativa/40% indica) strain created through crossing the classic Hawaiian Urkle X Gupta Kush strains. Looking for something to power you while you take on the world? You’ve found it. Hercules packs an energetic high that’s full of motivation, perfect for getting you ready for whatever comes your way. It starts with an energetic onset that hits you hard and fast, pulling your mind and body out of any aches and pains and launching it into complete and utter happiness. As your mind soars, you’ll feel an increased sense of focus that fills you in your entirety and leaves you ready to tackle any task at hand. This high is great for hitting the outdoors or working out with its long-lasting and well-balanced effects. Paired with its powerful THC level that bottoms out at 18%, these effects give Hercules an edge in treating chronic fatigue, inattentiveness, chronic pain, and headaches or migraines. This bud has a sweet floral earthy smell with hints of pungent rich grapes and musk. The flavor is of sweet grapes and earth with a touch of tangy tropical fruit upon exhale. Hercules has small piecey light minty green nugs with sparse orange hairs, golden undertones, and a thick coating of sticky sweet resin.

Lab Data

Hercules is becoming increasingly popular around Denver, but as with Gorilla Glue, its qualities can vary from grow to grow, and it’s known to have a number of phenotypes — though every one I’ve come across delivers similar hybrid effects. Colorado Harvest Company, Denver Dispensary, Peak and Pure all carry some form of Hercules, with the versions at Denver Dispensary and Peak (from a wholesale grower) both providing my favorite flavors and effects. Pure has two phenotypes of Hercules, both of which are high on the terps for $25 an eighth.

Looks: Don’t be put off by Hercules’s slender bud structure, as its finger- and diamond-shaped nugs are more about length than width. The strain’s bright-green color, peach pistils and moderate crust of milky trichomes make for a vibrant combination that pairs well with its smell.

Smell: Much like Durban Poison, Hercules offers a potent mixture of sweet and soil, with a twinge of pine and tropical fruit that reminds me of cantaloupe. Earthy and melon aspects create a fruity but balanced aroma.

Flavor: Sweet and savory notes of oranges and melon are accompanied by a welcome pine aftertaste that cuts into some of the fruitiness, cloaking the tastebuds in tropical and earthy flavors.

Effects: Hercules carries the designation of an all-day strain, and rightly so. It stimulates the mind while loosening the body without draining either, making it great for sessions from morning to night, inside or outdoors. The strain can also have an array of medical benefits: It’s used to treat eye pain, eating disorders, anxiety, stress and other forms of mental anguish.

Commercial grower’s take: “One of the tougher strains to nail down genetically. I’ll bet if you compared DNA tests of Hercules from different shops, the results would vary across the board. I’ve heard of some taking eight weeks, but ours takes nine — and that extra week helps flush out for a better flavor and smoke.”

Home grower’s take: “Bomb. I love Hercules. Gets me lifted in the morning, after lunch and before suppertime, and I never get tired. I think it’s kind of like food that tastes really good but doesn’t look all that great, because I have a hard time convincing people who haven’t tried it of how great the high and taste can be. It’s not too hard in the grow, but it’s not easy, either, especially if you don’t like or aren’t good at topping your plants a few times during the bloom cycle. “