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Royal Gorilla Strain (GG4): A Potent Hybrid Worth the Hype
One of the happiest accidents in cannabis history, Original Glue gave rise to our beloved Royal Gorilla. Discover the origins of the Glue line, as well as Royal Gorilla's aromas, flavours, effects, and growing tips.
Contents:
- What is the gorilla glue strain?
- Genetics & origin of gorilla glue strain
- What royal gorilla looks like
- Aroma & flavor profile
- Effects of the royal gorilla strain
- Royal gorilla thc level & potency
- Is royal gorilla indica or sativa?
- Growing royal gorilla: indoors & outdoors
- Which gorilla glue strain is the strongest?
- Other strains with royal gorilla genetics
- Why choose royal gorilla?
Created by accident, Gorilla Glue turned out to be one of the stickiest, most potent strains around, changing the face of the cannabis market forever. Once the most sought-after strain on the market, Gorilla Glue has continued to dominate dispensary shelves, and has birthed many descendants, including our own Royal Gorilla.
Below is an explanation of the genetic lineage, appearance, aroma, flavor, effects, and growing characteristics of the iconic GG4, covering all the reasons you need this multi-cup-winning cultivar in your grow room.
What Is the Gorilla Glue Strain?


Whether you know it as Gorilla Glue or by its other monikers, GG4 and Original Glue, this indica-dominant strain brings a whole new level of resin production and potency to the growing game. As its name suggests, its buds are so sticky that they easily “glue” the fingers together, which is a clear sign of massive trichome production.
In additon to its stickiness, the Gorilla Glue strain and its variants are respected for being very productive in the grow room.
Genetics & Origin of Gorilla Glue Strain
A mix of Chem's Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel genetics gave rise to Gorilla Glue, endowing it with next-level potency, dynamic flavors, and balanced growing characteristics.
Chem's Sister is an old-school strain that dates back to 1996. This sativa-dominant phenotype of Chemdawg gifted Gorilla Glue with a pungent skunky aroma with hints of citrus.
Sour Dubb, developed by B.O.G. Seeds, is also sativa dominant and packed with chemical-fuel flavors with hints of sweet fruits. It also contains THC levels testing as high as 23–26%, which contributes to Gorilla Glue’s insane potency.
Breeders completed the Gorilla Glue puzzle with Chocolate Diesel: a standout plant with coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and fuel flavors and a euphoric high.
The Accidental Creation of a Cannabis Icon
Breeder Joesy Whales unintentionally created the Gorilla Glue strain in 2009 through accidental pollination. Dissatisfied with the results, he got rid of the plants, but his friend Mardogg decided to keep some seeds anyway. When the two decided to grow the seeds out, they discovered some incredible phenotypes, and the Gorilla Glue line was born.
These phenotypes became known as GG1, GG2, and GG4. The latter proved the most commercially viable, thanks to its massive yields, fat, chunky buds, and off-the-charts resin production.
Our Take: Breeding Royal Gorilla
In creating our Royal Gorilla strain, our goal was to retain all of the original sought-after traits of the flagship GG4 pheno. In the process, we enhanced yield capability, bud density, resin production, and THC levels.
Royal Gorilla impresses beginners with its ease, and experts with its potential to thrive when trained. Regardless of grower skill level, everyone is sure to be satisfied by the exceptionally resinous buds this plant produces.
What Royal Gorilla Looks Like


Royal Gorilla seeds produce bushy, medium-tall plants with an abundance of thick side branches that grow as long as the main cola. When it comes to the resin covering her fist-sized colas, it truly needs to be seen to be believed.
You will only need to grow her out once to really understand the intensity of her “glue”. On top of this, you can expect her buds to take on signature green hues, potentially with flecks of purple, wrapped in bright orange pistils.
Aroma & Flavor Profile
The Gorilla Glue strain is in a league of its own when it comes to aroma and flavor. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect, and why this strain is one of the biggest head-turners you can add to your garden.
Aroma & Terpenes
You will need to ensure your carbon filters are working effectively when growing Royal Gorilla, as she’s not afraid to stink. Combining earthy, sour, fuel, and pine notes with hints of chocolate, Royal Gorilla’s aroma is savoury and unique.
This complex profile is the result of terpenes, esters, and VSC compounds. In particular, Royal Gorilla features an abundance of caryophyllene, myrcene, and limonene. These three terpenes contribute spicy, musky, and zesty influences, respectively.
Flavor Notes
When lighting a joint of Royal Gorilla, you will experience an earthy, sweet, spicy, and sour flavor. Upon exhaling, notes of mocha and diesel round out the experience. Saying this strain is complex is an understatement; it’s definitely not one of today's typical dessert strains.
Effects of the Royal Gorilla Strain
The Gorilla Glue experience can be summed up in one word: intense. Here’s what you can expect when smoking or vaping Royal Gorilla.
Immediate & Enduring Effects
Soon after taking your first couple hits of Royal Gorilla, you will experience a soaring, euphoric, and creative effect. Gradually, or at higher doses, the effect shifts into a heavy, stoned, and couch-locking experience: one that many users actually seek out.
It will only take one joint to put your mind and body into a relaxed, sleepy, and narcotic state, so if you want to minimise these effects, less is more.
Recreational Uses
If you’re a fan of chilling when smoking weed, Royal Gorilla is your strain. While you can engage in some light activities or socialising when enjoying these buds, they’re best suited for diving into a box set of your favorite shows or spending the evening glued to the couch with the movie channel on.
Royal Gorilla THC Level & Potency
Royal Gorilla is capable of developing up to 27% THC, with some specimens reportedly producing more when grown in optimal conditions. For this reason, inexperienced smokers should approach consumption of the Gorilla Glue strain with caution.
Is Royal Gorilla Indica or Sativa?
While Original Glue is indica dominant, Royal Gorilla features an even split of indica and sativa genetics, resulting in exceptionally balanced growth traits and dense, potent buds.
Growing Royal Gorilla: Indoors & Outdoors


Below are growing tips for both indoor and outdoor cultivation to help you achieve the best results possible.
Indoor Growing Tips
Royal Gorilla is a robust, fast-growing plant that reaches heights of 90–130 cm and responds well to training. We recommend using LST or the ScrOG method. As far as flowering time and yield are concerned, Royal Gorilla races to harvest in 8–9 weeks and produces up to 550 g/m².
Outdoor Cultivation
Outdoors, Royal Gorilla prefers a warm, dry climate and is capable of reaching 170 cm. By mid-October, plants can produce up to 600 grams each.
Which Gorilla Glue Strain Is the Strongest?
As mentioned, the original Gorilla Glue family featured three main phenotypes, each offering something different. Interestingly, GG5 was created by crossing GG4 with GG1. Let's compare three of the most popular Glue phenos.
GG4 is widely believed to be the strongest of the three, delivering a strong mind-body effect that categorises it as a heavy hitter. It also has a very dank, fuel-forward flavor profile that makes it stand out.
On the other hand, GG1 features a terpene profile with more emphasis on earthy, pine, and citrus notes. As far as effects go, it’s typically described as less potent than GG4, but still very relaxing.
Finally, GG5 is often reserved for daytime use, as it produces a prolonged euphoria that allows users to get creative without becoming too sleepy to engage.
Other Strains with Royal Gorilla Genetics
If you love the sound of Royal Gorilla, then why not try some Gorilla Glue hybrids? Below is a selection of other top-performing GG#4 hybrids that you may want to add to your cannabis seed shopping list.
Royal Gorilla Automatic
Royal Gorilla Automatic is an autoflowering version of our beloved Royal Gorilla strain, which takes just 10–12 weeks from germination to harvest, boasts THC levels of up to 20%, and yields impressive hauls of 500 g/m².
Royal Gorilla Auto
|
Gorilla x Cookies x Ruderalis |
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11 to 14 oz/m² |
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2 to 3 feet |
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6 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 20% |
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Sativa 30% Indica 50% Ruderalis 20% |
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4 to 6 oz/plant |
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3 to 5 feet |
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10 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Heavy, Physically Relaxing, Stoned |
Mother Gorilla
Formerly known as Royal Madre, this strain is a cross of Jack the Ripper and GG4. Mother Gorilla produces up to 500 g/m² of buds boasting up to 30% THC, in just 9–10 weeks of flowering time.
Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)
|
Gorilla Glue 4 x Reina Madre |
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16 to 19 oz/m² |
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2 to 3 feet |
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9 - 10 weeks |
|
THC: 23% |
|
Sativa 70% Indica 30% |
|
18 to 19 oz/plant |
|
5 to 6 feet |
|
Early October |
|
Calming, Euphoric |
Buy Mother Gorilla (Formerly Royal Madre)
Triple G
A cross of Green Gelato and Royal Gorilla, this indica-dominant hybrid produces large buds packing up to 26% THC. After 8–9 weeks of flowering, you can expect to harvest up to 575 g/m².
Triple G
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Gorilla Glue 4 x Gelato 33 |
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18 to 20 oz/m² |
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3 to 4 feet |
|
8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 26% |
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Sativa 15% Indica 85% |
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21 to 23 oz/plant |
|
5 to 6 feet |
|
Middle of October |
|
Clear, Euphoric, Fast Thinking, Motivating |
Why Choose Royal Gorilla?
Royal Gorilla represents the pinnacle of the Gorilla Glue experience. Our breeding team meticulously developed this strain to meet and exceed the finest characteristics of the original strain, while making it easy to grow for cultivators of different experience levels. Our focus on transparency and quality control means you can plant these seeds knowing you’re growing authentic GG4 weed.
Royal Gorilla
|
Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel |
|
18 to 19 oz/m² |
|
3 to 5 feet |
|
8 - 10 weeks |
|
THC: 27% |
|
Sativa 50% Indica 50% |
|
19 to 21 oz/plant |
|
4 to 6 feet |
|
Middle of October |
|
Calming, Clear |
FAQ About the Royal Gorilla Strain
- Is Royal Gorilla the same as Gorilla Glue?
- Yes, it's our version of GG4.
- What effects can I expect?
- Royal Gorilla's effects are uplifting, relaxing, euphoric, and body-heavy.
- Is Royal Gorilla beginner-friendly?
- It’s potent, but manageable in small doses.
- Is Royal Gorilla better than other GG4 strains?
- It has comparable potency with refined breeding practices.