By Luke Sumpter

RQS Gorilla Strains: Which One Is the Strongest?

Illustration of a gorilla surrounded by cannabis buds, representing RQS Gorilla strains, questioning which is the strongest.

Gorilla strains have taken the cannabis world by storm, offering exceptional potency, resin production, and flavour profiles. But among Royal Queen Seeds’ lineup, which Gorilla Glue weed strain is the strongest? This guide explores the genetics, effects, flavours, and cultivation tips for Royal Gorilla, Shogun, Triple G, and Mother Gorilla, helping growers and users make an informed choice.

Origins of Gorilla Strains: Winning the Genetic Lottery

The story of Gorilla strains begins with a serendipitous accident that would change the cannabis world forever. In the United States, breeders Joesy Whales and Lone Watie were experimenting with their plants when Joesy’s plant, Chem’s Sister, accidentally hermied and pollinated his Sour Dubb. While most growers might have discarded the seeds, Lone Watie saw potential and kept a few. When germinated, these seeds produced plants later known as GG4 (Original Glue). Royal Gorilla is Royal Queen Seeds’ refined take on this lineage, boasting THC levels of up to 30%, a potency that shocked the cannabis community.

Also known as GG4 (Original Glue), it quickly earned fame after winning multiple High Times Cannabis Cups, cementing its status as a benchmark for high-THC hybrids. Its combination of Chem’s Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel genetics created a plant with massive resin production, dense buds, and a balanced indica/sativa profile, laying the foundation for offspring like Shogun, Triple G, and Mother Gorilla.

However, the story isn’t just about genetics; it’s also about a naming controversy. The original breeders dubbed their creation “Gorilla Glue,” but the trademarked Gorilla Glue Co., a separate entity producing adhesives, challenged the use of the name. While legal disputes ensued over branding rights, the name GG4 stuck in the cannabis world, and “Original Glue” became an alternative used by some seed banks to avoid confusion. Despite the controversy, the genetics and potency of the strain remain undisputed, proving that great cannabis sometimes emerges from pure accident and a bit of luck.

Growth Characteristics: King Kong Cannabis Plants

Gorilla strains are vigorous hybrids that reward careful cultivation. Royal Gorilla thrives indoors and outdoors, preferring a slightly acidic pH of 6.0–6.5. Whether grown in nutrient-rich soil or hydroponic systems, she responds exceptionally well to ScrOG (Screen of Green) and 4-way LST (Low Stress Training) techniques, which help maximise light exposure and bud density. With optimal care, Royal Gorilla produces dense, sticky buds laden with resin, perfect for growers seeking quality over sheer quantity.

Shogun, on the other hand, leans more toward a warm, sunny climate and demands higher nutrient levels to reach its full potential. Its sativa-dominant genetics result in taller, more open branching, so indoor growers may need to provide additional support or pruning to optimise yields.

Triple G forms bushy, compact plants with narrow, resin-coated buds. Its heavy indica dominance makes it well-suited for smaller grow spaces while still delivering impressive THC levels. Regular topping and pruning expose all bud sites to light, ensuring a uniform canopy and optimal resin production.

Although sativa-dominant, Mother Gorilla maintains manageable indoor dimensions, growing tall but not overwhelmingly so. She flourishes in fertile soil and benefits from air circulation and humidity control, which help prevent mould and pest issues during her flowering phase.

All Gorilla strains demonstrate moderate pest resistance and adapt well to varying climates, but controlled temperature, humidity, and airflow remain critical for achieving the best results. Growers using hydroponic setups should maintain stable nutrient levels and pH to prevent stress, while soil growers should focus on well-draining media enriched with organic nutrients. Understanding these subtle differences helps growers choose the Gorilla strain that best fits their environment, space, and cultivation goals.

Royal Gorilla Effects: Next Stop Dreamland

Royal Gorilla

Royal Gorilla is a balanced indica/sativa hybrid delivering a powerful, relaxing high while keeping the mind uplifted. Flavours of earth, pine, and sweet citrus are linked to terpenes like myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, and limonene, contributing to its soothing and euphoric effects. This makes Royal Gorilla a favourite among both recreational users and experienced connoisseurs.

Royal Gorilla
Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel
500 - 550 gr/m2
90 - 160 cm
8 - 10 weeks
THC: 27%
Sativa 50% Indica 50%
550 - 600 gr/plant
130 - 170 cm
Middle of October
Calming, Clear

Buy Royal Gorilla

Royal Gorilla Automatic Is Here to Dominate

Royal Gorilla Auto

Our breeders took legendary genetics and made them available as an autoflowering strain. Now, growers can enjoy the profound effects and delicious tastes of Gorilla in much less time. We created Royal Gorilla Automatic by breeding the original strain with a ruderalis cultivar. The result? An indica-dominant strain that’s easy to grow and fast to flower. Autoflowering strains usually require the grower to sacrifice potency for speed. That’s not the case here. Royal Gorilla Automatic offers both!

Growing Royal Gorilla Automatic

Beginner growers won’t have any trouble cultivating Royal Gorilla Automatic. If you’re new to growing, she’s your ticket to success. She can handle temperature fluctuations, periods of over- and under-watering, and has no trouble fending off mould. When grown indoors, she’ll reach 60–120 cm in height and produce 325–400 g/m². Outdoor plants peak at a taller height of 140 cm and produce 120–170 g/plant. Expect to harvest these buds 8–10 weeks after germination.

Smoking Royal Gorilla Automatic

Royal Gorilla Automatic boasts a THC level of 20%, quite potent for an autoflowering strain. Her indica-dominant high immediately relaxes the body and mind. She’s an ideal recreational strain in the evenings when it’s time to relax and forget about the outside world. These effects go hand in hand with pleasant aromas and citrus, pine, and fruit flavours.

Royal Gorilla Auto
Gorilla x Cookies x Ruderalis
325 - 400 gr/m2
70 - 100 cm
6 - 8 weeks
THC: 20%
Sativa 30% Indica 50% Ruderalis 20%
120 - 170 gr/plant
80 - 140 cm
10 - 12 weeks after sprouting
Heavy, Physically Relaxing, Stoned

Buy Royal Gorilla Auto

Shogun: Gorilla Weed Meets Haze

Shogun

Shogun pulls absolutely no punches when it comes to turning a sober mind into a high one. As a descendant of both Gorilla Glue #4 and Amnesia Haze, this powerful cultivar possesses a somewhat intimidating THC content of 25%. It takes little more than a couple of hits to feel an uplifting, creative, and laughter-inducing high take hold. Shogun’s enlivening effects make her a good candidate for daytime smoking sessions, and even waking and baking. However, tread carefully, her potency could send you back to bed sooner than intended!

When it comes to growing Shogun, make sure you have enough stash jars to store the bounty she provides at the end of the cultivation cycle. When left untrained, indoor plants grow to a relatively tall height of 140 cm and produce up to 600 g/m². Outdoors, Shogun surges to 190 cm and produces up to a massive 750 g/plant.

Shogun
Amnesia Haze x Gorilla Glue 4
550 - 600 gr/m2
90 – 140 cm
9 - 11 weeks
THC: 25%
Sativa 70% Indica 30%
650 - 750 gr/plant
150 - 190 cm
Late October
Calming, Clear, Laughter, Uplifting

Buy Shogun

Triple G: The Prized Offspring of Gorilla Glue #4 and Gelato 33

Triple G

Talk about strong genetics! This variety boasts one of the most potent pairings of parent strains. Both Gorilla Glue #4 and Gelato 33 are known for their formidable strength, delicious terpenes, and excellent productivity, and Triple G possesses a mix of their very best traits. This indica-dominant hybrid boasts an outlandish THC content of 26%. Take a couple of hits and prepare to feel a stoning and muscle-melting high sweep across your entire body. Scrumptious tastes of chocolate, citrus, diesel, and earthiness make this strain particularly moreish.

Triple G has a rather compact morphology and responds well to training to keep her even more condensed. Indoor plants grow to 90–140 cm and produce up to 575 g/m². Even growers working with small spaces can achieve a great end result with this strain. When grown in a sunny position and in fertile soil, outdoor plants will top out at 180 cm and produce 600–650 g/plant.

Triple G
Gorilla Glue 4 x Gelato 33
525 - 575 gr/m2
90 – 140 cm
8 - 9 weeks
THC: 26%
Sativa 15% Indica 85%
600 - 650 gr/plant
140 - 180 cm
Middle of October
Clear, Euphoric, Fast Thinking, Motivating

Buy Triple G

Triple G Auto: For Growers With a Need for Speed

Triple G Auto

Are you craving all of the delights that Triple G offers, but don’t have the time to bring a large photoperiod plant to maturity? Well, fret not, fellow grower. Let us introduce you to Triple G Auto! This cultivar serves up some of the best traits of Triple G, but in a fast-growing autoflowering format. Our skilled breeders created this strain by crossing Triple G herself with Big Skunk Auto. After taking some time to refine this strain and stabilise a consistent phenotype, they created one of the most potent autos going. This strain features a THC content of 20% and, in true Gorilla fashion, lands a hard-hitting high ideal for quiet evenings at home. Much like the photoperiod Triple G, she also serves up tastes of candy, chocolate, and earthiness.

Although Triple G Auto provides a similar high to the original, she behaves much differently in the grow room and garden. With a touch of training, indoor plants remain as small as 60 cm and produce up to 500 g/m² in as little as 10 weeks after germination. Outdoors, plants grow to 80–140 cm, depending on pot size and sunlight exposure. Ensure fertile soil, and you’ll harvest up to 140 g/plant.

Triple G Auto
Triple G x Big Skunk Auto
450 - 500 gr/m2
60 - 120 cm
8 - 9 weeks
THC: 20%
Sativa 15% Indica 80% Ruderalis 5%
90 - 140 gr/plant
80 - 140 cm
10 - 12 weeks after sprouting
Clear, Fast Thinking, Motivating

Buy Triple G Auto

Mother Gorilla: A Potent Gorilla Strain With Tastes of Chocolate

Mother Gorilla

If you decide to grow Mother Gorilla, you might find yourself thumping your chest with excitement when harvest time swings around. Formerly known as Royal Madre, this stunning sativa-dominant specimen puts on quite the show during the flowering phase. As her colas mature, they become all the more purple, aromatic, and resin-laden. Our breeders managed to create such a spectacle by crossing parent strains Reina Madre and Gorilla Glue #4. Overall, these sticky buds harbour a THC content of 23% and a battery of terpenes that unleash flavours and aromas of chocolate, earthiness, skunk, and sourness.

Despite her sativa-dominant genetic profile, Mother Gorilla adheres to an indica morphology. Plants are bushy, compact, and attractive to growers looking to remain stealthy. Indoor plants stay at 60–100 cm and are highly productive in ScrOG systems, yielding up to 500 g/m² after a flowering time of 9–10 weeks. Outdoors, Mother Gorilla grows to a taller height of 140–180 cm and produces up to 550 g/plant, ready to harvest during early October.

Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)
Gorilla Glue 4 x Reina Madre
450 - 500 gr/m2
60 - 100 cm
9 - 10 weeks
THC: 23%
Sativa 70% Indica 30%
500 - 550 gr/plant
140 - 180 cm
Early October
Calming, Euphoric

Buy Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)

Which Gorilla Glue Strain Is the Strongest?

So, which Gorilla Glue strain holds the heavyweight title when it comes to potency? Check out how they all compare below.

Royal Gorilla
THC % 24–30%
Indica/Sativa 50/50
Flavours Earthy, pine, sweet
Yield Moderate
Flowering Time 8–9 weeks
Shogun
THC % 25%
Indica/Sativa 70/30
Flavours Earth, pine
Yield High
Flowering Time 9–11 weeks
Triple G
THC % 26%
Indica/Sativa 85/15
Flavours Chocolate, citrus, diesel
Yield Medium
Flowering Time 8–9 weeks
Mother Gorilla
THC % 23–25%
Indica/Sativa 70/30
Flavours Chocolate, earth, pine
Yield Medium
Flowering Time 9–10 weeks



When it comes to which Gorilla Glue strain is the strongest, Royal Gorilla clearly takes the crown with THC levels reaching up to 30%. Its balanced 50/50 indica/sativa profile, dense resinous buds, and rich earth, pine, and sweet citrus flavours make it a favourite for recreational users and connoisseurs seeking a premium experience.