Written by Ad OpsIntroduction to Alpujarrena (Pyramid Seeds)
Alpujarrena, sometimes written Alpujarreña, is a mostly indica cannabis cultivar developed and released by Pyramid Seeds in Spain. The strain traces its identity to the rugged Alpujarras region on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, a landscape known for sharp diurnal temperature swings and high-altitude microclimates. As a result, Alpujarrena is prized for its hardiness, early finishing window, and a calm, grounded effect profile.
Growers and consumers often choose Alpujarrena for reliability over flash, seeking consistent structure, manageable plant size, and predictable yields. In the garden it stays compact, finishes fast, and shrugs off cool nights that can slow or stress less-adapted varieties. In the jar it delivers earthy-pine notes and a soothing indica-led experience that many find well-suited to evenings or restorative downtime.
With its Spanish heritage and breeder pedigree, Alpujarrena occupies a sweet spot between traditional mountain selections and modern stability. Pyramid Seeds describes it as mostly indica, and field reports consistently echo that categorization. For cultivators in temperate or higher-latitude zones, its short flowering time and cold tolerance make it a dependable anchor strain across seasons.
History and Breeding by Pyramid Seeds
Pyramid Seeds, a Spanish seed company with a catalog of purpose-bred cultivars, selected and stabilized Alpujarrena from mountain genetics acclimated to the Alpujarras. Breeding emphasis focused on early maturity, structural uniformity, and resilience under cold-night conditions common above 600 meters elevation. The commercial release followed several generations of selection to fix these traits while preserving terpene character.
During the early 2010s, European growers increasingly sought cultivars that could wrap up before autumn rains and humidity spikes. Alpujarrena filled that demand with a flowering window of roughly 50 to 55 days indoors, and outdoor finishes hovering around early to mid September in many northern hemisphere locales. This early maturation is a practical advantage that can reduce mold risk and loss to bad weather by an estimated 10 to 30 percent compared with late-October finishers.
By anchoring the line in mostly indica heritage, Pyramid Seeds leaned into compact nodes, dense calyx development, and low maintenance vigor. While raw potency often defines newer hype releases, Alpujarrena deliberately balances moderate THC with a relaxing, functional effect. The breeder’s choice helped diversify gardens with a strain valued for reliability as much as intensity.
Genetic Lineage and Regional Origins
Alpujarrena’s genetic backbone reflects indica-leaning mountain stock acclimated to the Andalusian highlands. Though no single parent line is publicly disclosed, the phenotype behaves like an Afghan-Pakistan influenced indica adapted over decades to cool nights and variable humidity. This localized selection history explains its notable cold tolerance and color potential when nights drop below about 15 degrees Celsius.
High-elevation regions like the Alpujarras are known for strong diurnal temperature swings, lower atmospheric pressure, and more intense solar radiation. These pressures tend to reward compact morphology, early flowering, and resin density as protective traits. Over multiple generational cycles, such environmental filters steer chemotype expression toward resinous, earthy, and herbaceous terpene signatures.
In practical terms, growers can think of Alpujarrena as a Spanish-bred mountain indica that retains the sturdiness of landrace-forward stock while presenting in a modern, uniform seed line. It is not a sativa-leaning hybrid and rarely stretches excessively, even when given longer vegetative periods. The overall genetic impression is one of pragmatic stability rather than novel recombination.
Botanical Appearance and Morphology
Alpujarrena grows with a stout, indica-forward structure and a medium internodal distance. Leaves are broad with dark to blue-green tones, and serrations are pronounced but not overly elongated. The canopy tends toward a Christmas-tree shape when untrained, with a dominant central cola and several well-formed satellite tops.
Under optimal conditions indoors, expect final heights of roughly 70 to 120 centimeters without aggressive training. Outdoor plants can reach 120 to 200 centimeters depending on vegetative time, root volume, and latitude. Cooler nights can trigger anthocyanin expression, painting bracts and sugar leaves with violet to plum hues by late flower.
Bud formation is dense but not overpacked, with a calyx-to-leaf ratio slightly above average for indica-dominant lines. Trichome coverage is heavy across bracts and sugar leaves, producing a frosted, sticky finish. Pistils transition from pale cream to copper or rust as ripening advances, offering a classic mountain indica aesthetic.
Aroma and Bouquet
Aromatically, Alpujarrena leans earthy, piney, and herbaceous, often evoking mountain scrub and resinous conifers. Many growers report notes reminiscent of wild thyme, rosemary, and sage alongside hints of damp forest floor. As flowers mature, a subtle sweetness emerges that rounds the edges of the herbal core.
On a clean cold sniff from a jar, the top notes often present as bright pine and fresh-cut wood. Mid-layer aromas trend toward myrcene-driven earth and a faint floral-lavender nuance, particularly from late-week samples that are fully cured. The finish may show a peppery, slightly spicy warmth tied to caryophyllene and humulene.
Grinding the flower amplifies the pine and herb spectrum and can release a light citrusy snap in some phenotypes. This evolution from forest-leaning top notes to warm spice and soft floral undertones gives Alpujarrena complexity that belies its modest, old-world roots. Terpene intensity is moderate to strong, with well-cured batches perfuming small spaces quickly.
Flavor and Mouthfeel
On the palate, Alpujarrena typically mirrors its aroma, with pine, earth, and gentle spice leading the experience. The inhale is clean and coniferous, while the exhale often emphasizes peppery warmth with a faint floral backdrop. Some tasters note a mild sweetness that softens the herbal edges and lingers as a resinous aftertaste.
Vaporizing at 175 to 190 degrees Celsius highlights pine and floral tones while keeping the mouthfeel light and smooth. Combustion pushes more earth and pepper, with the terpene profile showing a touch more weight and hash-like resin character. A well-cured sample will burn evenly to light gray ash and avoids acrid bite.
Compared with dessert-forward hybrids, Alpujarrena’s flavor spectrum is grounded and natural. It resembles classic indica profiles many associate with mountain-grown cannabis rather than modern candy-forward terpene cocktails. The finish is satisfying without excessive sweetness, making it easy to enjoy repeatedly without palate fatigue.
Cannabinoid Profile and Potency
Lab-tested batches of Alpujarrena generally report moderate THC with minimal CBD, in line with classic indica-dominant chemovars. Typical THC ranges fall between 13 and 19 percent by dry weight, with a frequent central tendency around 15 to 17 percent. CBD often registers below 1 percent, commonly in the 0.05 to 0.6 percent band, and total cannabinoids may reach 18 to 22 percent.
Some modern phenotypes can show CBG between 0.2 and 0.6 percent, which may subtly influence the effect profile. While not a high-CBD cultivar, trace CBD and CBG can modestly modulate THC’s impact, potentially contributing to a smoother onset. Total terpene content commonly lands between 1.0 and 2.2 percent in well-grown, carefully cured samples.
From a practical standpoint, Alpujarrena’s potency sits in a functional sweet spot. It is strong enough to satisfy most regular consumers yet typically avoids the overwhelming intensity of 25 percent THC heavy-hitters. For medical users sensitive to high-THC strains, this middle range can be easier to dose and titrate responsibly.
Terpene Profile and Aroma Chemistry
Across tested lots, the terpene stack of Alpujarrena is frequently led by beta-myrcene, alpha- and beta-pinene, and beta-caryophyllene, with notable contributions from humulene and ocimene. Representative terpene distributions might include myrcene at 0.4 to 0.9 percent, total pinene at 0.2 to 0.5 percent, caryophyllene at 0.15 to 0.35 percent, and humulene at 0.05 to 0.15 percent. Some plants express linalool or terpinolene in trace-to-minor quantities, shaping subtle floral or citrusy edges.
Myrcene’s earthy, musky character anchors the base and is commonly associated with relaxing, body-led sensations. Pinene contributes crisp coniferous top notes and is studied for alertness-preserving and bronchodilatory properties, adding balance to heavier myrcene tones. Caryophyllene brings pepper-spice warmth and uniquely engages CB2 receptors, introducing anti-inflammatory potential without intoxication.
In sensory terms, this terpene matrix explains the forest-herbal vibe that defines Alpujarrena’s bouquet. Pinene adds lift, myrcene deepens the base, and caryophyllene-humulene provide a dry spice counterpoint. The overall effect is structured, layered, and consistent with a mountain-adapted indica lineage.
Experiential Effects and Use Scenarios
The experience of Alpujarrena tends to start with a gentle, centering head change within 5 to 10 minutes of inhalation. As it settles, a body-led calm spreads, easing muscular tension and encouraging stillness without forcing couchlock at moderate doses. Mentally, users describe quieted internal chatter, a soft focus, and low-anxiety presence.
Duration commonly spans 2 to 3 hours for inhaled routes, with a gradual comedown and low incidence of lingering edginess. At higher doses the cultivar can become sedating, supporting deep relaxation and sleep onset in the final hour. Side effects may include dry mouth and dry eyes, reported by 30 to 60 percent of cannabis users generally, and occasional lightheadedness in under 10 percent.
Use scenarios often include evening decompression, post-exercise muscle relaxation, or winding down before bed. Because of its pinene content, some find it more functional than ultra-heavy indicas, especially early in the session. Music listening, stretching, and calm social time pair naturally with its effect profile.
Potential Medical Uses and Evidence
While individual response varies, Alpujarrena’s chemotype suggests potential in common symptom domains where indica-leaning strains perform well. These include short-term relief of stress and generalized anxiety, muscle tension, and difficulty sleeping. The moderate THC range allows careful titration, which can be advantageous for patients sensitive to high-intensity strains.
Mechanistically, several dominant terpenes contribute supportive effects. Beta-caryophyllene is a selective CB2 agonist with reported anti-inflammatory action, with binding affinities in the low to mid-hundreds of nanomolar range and observable reductions in inflammatory markers in preclinical models. Myrcene is frequently cited for analgesic and sedative-adjacent properties, while linalool exhibits anxiolytic and calming effects in both animal models and limited human data.
For sleep, indica-dominant profiles with higher myrcene have been associated anecdotally with improved sleep latency, though controlled clinical data remain limited. Pain and spasm relief may be achieved through combined THC and caryophyllene pathways, with THC providing central analgesia and caryophyllene potentially moderating peripheral inflammation. As always, patients should consult healthcare professionals, begin with low doses, and use caution when combining cannabis with other sedatives.
Comprehensive Cultivation Guide: Environment and Scheduling
Alpujarrena is engineered for speed and stability, making it forgiving for new growers and efficient for experienced ones. Indoors, expect flowering in approximately 50 to 55 days from the 12-12 flip, with many phenotypes ripening by day 52. Outdoors in the northern hemisphere, harvests often land in early to mid September, depending on latitude and microclimate.
Vegetative growth proceeds best at 24 to 26 degrees Celsius during the day and 18 to 20 degrees Celsius at night. Maintain relative humidity of 60 to 70 percent for seedlings and 50 to 60 percent in vegetative growth, transitioning to 45 to 55 percent in early flower and 40 to 45 percent in late flower. Target VPD in the 0.8 to 1.2 kPa range for steady transpiration and nutrient flow.
For lighting, aim for 350 to 500 PPFD during early veg, rising to 600 to 800 PPFD in late veg. Flowering intensity of 700 to 900 PPFD is sufficient for this cultivar, with experienced growers pushing to 1000 PPFD if CO2 is supplemented to 800 to 1200 ppm. Daily light integral goals of roughly 25 to 35 mol per square meter per day in veg and 35 to 50 in flower yield compact, resinous canopies without undue stress.
Photoperiod of 18-6 during veg and 12-12 during flower is standard. Because Alpujarrena is mostly indica, it will rarely over-stretch; expect 1.3 to 1.6x vertical growth after flip. This conservative stretch simplifies canopy management and allows tighter vertical spacing in tents and rooms.
Feeding, Media, and Irrigation Strategy
Alpujarrena performs well across media, including high-quality peat blends, coco coir, and buffered hydroponic substrates. In soil or peat-based media, maintain pH near 6.2 to 6.6; in coco and hydro, 5.8 to 6.2 is a reliable range. Early veg EC of 1.1 to 1.3, rising to 1.6 to 1.8 by mid flower, and 1.8 to 2.0 in late flower suits its nutrient appetite.
Nitrogen demand is moderate; overfeeding N in early flower can inhibit flower density and prolong maturity. Phosphorus and potassium should be increased beginning week 3 of flower, with attention to calcium and magnesium supplementation, particularly in coco-based systems. A weekly 10 to 15 percent runoff in container culture helps prevent salt accumulation and pH drift.
Irrigate when 40 to 60 percent of container water has been used in soil and peat mixes; in coco and hydro, maintain frequent, lighter irrigations to keep air-filled porosity high. Plants signal overwatering through drooping and slow transpiration; allow media to re-oxygenate before resuming a normal schedule. Consider silica supplementation at 50 to 100 ppm to enhance stem rigidity and stress tolerance.
Training, Pruning, and Canopy Control
Given its compact structure, Alpujarrena responds well to topping once or twice to even the canopy. Low-stress training and light supercropping in early veg can spread branches and create an efficient multi-top profile. A simple screen of green can further uniformize the light footprint and maximize yield per square meter.
Because stretch is restrained, a short veg of 3 to 4 weeks can fill a 0.6 by 0.6 meter area with one to two plants. In a 1.2 by 1.2 meter tent, four to six plants with topping and lateral training produce a dense but manageable canopy. Defoliate lightly in week 3 of flower to improve airflow and light penetration, avoiding excessive leaf removal that can slow resin production.
Pruning strategy should preserve interior airflow, as dense indica bud sites can trap humidity late in flower. Maintain 10 to 20 centimeters of clean lower stems to reduce larf and improve hygiene. Stake or trellis during week 2 to 3 of flower; colas are dense and may lean under weight by week 7.
Pest, Disease, and Environmental Stress Management
Alpujarrena’s early finish inherently reduces disease pressure compared with longer-running cultivars. Nonetheless, integrated pest management should be proactive. Maintain intake filtration, regular scouting, and sanitation to prevent common threats like spider mites, thrips, and powdery mildew.
Temperature swings are well-tolerated; night drops to 10 to 12 degrees Celsius typically do not trigger hermaphroditism in stable phenotypes. In fact, cool nights can intensify color expression without degrading resin if humidity is controlled. Keep late-flower RH at 40 to 45 percent and ensure strong air exchange to mitigate botrytis risk in dense tops.
Biological controls, such as predatory mites and Bacillus-based foliar tools, can be deployed preventatively in veg. Avoid heavy foliar sprays after week 2 of flower to prevent residue and botrytis. If outdoor conditions turn wet, shake excess moisture from colas in the morning and increase spacing or selective defoliation to promote airflow.
Harvest Timing, Drying, and Curing
Indoors, Alpujarrena typically reaches peak ripeness between day 50 and day 55 of flower. Trichome assessments often show cloudy with 10 to 20 percent amber at this point, delivering balanced potency and a relaxing effect. For a more sedative profile, some growers wait for 20 to 30 percent amber, though this can slightly reduce perceived brightness in aroma.
After cutting, a slow dry at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius and 55 to 60 percent RH for 7 to 10 days preserves terpenes and color. Stems should snap rather than bend before final trim and jar. Curing at 58 to 62 percent RH with daily burping for the first 10 days, then weekly for the next 2 to 3 weeks, refines the bouquet and smooths the smoke.
Properly cured Alpujarrena continues to develop a rounded pine-herbal character with subdued harshness. Terpene retention declines when dried too quickly or above 22 degrees Celsius; gentle handling maintains more of the top-note pinene fractions. Well-cured flowers hold quality for 3 to 6 months in airtight, UV-protected containers kept around 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Yield Expectations and Performance Metrics
Indoors under efficient LED lighting and good environmental control, Alpujarrena often returns 450 to 550 grams per square meter. Skilled growers who optimize PPFD, VPD, and feed can push yields to 600 grams per square meter without compromising quality. Outdoors, single plants yield in the 400 to 900 gram range, depending on root volume, sun hours, and season length.
CO2 enrichment to 800 to 1200 ppm during lights-on can improve biomass by 10 to 20 percent if light intensity and nutrition are matched. Dense but balanced bud structure gives a favorable trim-to-keeper ratio; calyx-forward flowers reduce waste from excessive leaf content. Resin production is solid and supports dry sift or ice water hash runs with recovery rates in the 12 to 18 percent range from high-quality material.
Because of its early finish, Alpujarrena outperforms many later strains in climates with September rains or early cold snaps. Loss reduction from mold and weather can be substantial, with side-by-side growers reporting 15 to 30 percent less discard compared with later-finishing genetics. The stability of phenotype expression further contributes to predictable harvests over multiple cycles.
Environmental Tolerances and Stress Responses
Alpujarrena’s mountain heritage confers useful environmental tolerance bands. It handles day temperatures from 20 to 28 degrees Celsius well and tolerates brief spikes to 30 if humidity is controlled. Night lows down to 10 to 12 degrees are generally safe and can promote attractive pigmentation late in flower.
The cultivar is moderately tolerant of drought stress, maintaining turgor better than many hybrids when media dries to 60 to 70 percent of container capacity. However, chronic under-watering reduces terpene intensity and can collapse yield by 10 to 20 percent. Salt sensitivity is average; EC beyond 2.1 late in flower risks tip burn without clear yield benefits.
Light stress presents as leaf edge curl and top bleaching above 1000 to 1100 PPFD without CO2. Keep canopy distance appropriate to fixture output and use gentle LST to avoid hot zones. If leaf clawing appears in early flower, consider lowering nitrogen and verifying root-zone oxygenation.
Legal and Responsible Use Considerations
Cultivation and consumption laws vary widely by country and region. Growers and consumers should verify local regulations regarding plant counts, possession limits, and permissible cultivation methods. Indoor growers may need odor control and safety measures to comply with tenancy agreements and municipal codes.
For medical use, professional guidance is recommended to avoid interactions with existing medications or conditions. New consumers should start with low doses and increase slowly to find a comfortable therapeutic window. Avoid driving or operating machinery while under the influence and keep products out of reach of children and pets.
Responsible storage and labeling help prevent accidental ingestion. If making edibles, measure potency carefully and clearly mark servings to prevent overconsumption. Transparency about strength and intended use supports safety for all household members.
Comparisons and Ideal Use Cases
Compared with late-running, high-THC dessert cultivars, Alpujarrena prioritizes finish time, stability, and balanced potency. Where a Gelato lineage might demand 60 to 70 days of flower and exacting climate control, Alpujarrena often completes in 50 to 55 days with fewer sensitivities. In short-season or marginal outdoor climates, that difference can make or break a harvest.
Flavor-wise it competes not by candy intensity but by authentic forest-herbal depth and a refreshing pine lift. Consumers who enjoy classic indica aromas, old-world hash notes, and grounded relaxation often connect with this profile. In mixed gardens, it serves as a dependable early harvester that frees space for staggered runs and post-harvest cleaning before winter.
For new growers, Alpujarrena’s forgiving nature smooths the learning curve. For veterans, it offers a low-drama, high-consistency workhorse with respectable numbers. In both cases, its Pyramid Seeds pedigree and mostly indica heritage underpin a cultivar that performs predictably across methods and seasons.
Final Thoughts
Alpujarrena embodies the practical excellence of a mountain-bred, mostly indica strain refined by Pyramid Seeds. Its early finish, cool-night tolerance, and steady morphology make it a standout for both indoor and outdoor cultivation, especially where autumn challenges loom. In the jar, it delivers a satisfying pine-earth-spice profile and an effect that feels restorative rather than overwhelming.
The numbers tell a consistent story. Flowering in roughly 50 to 55 days, THC commonly 13 to 19 percent, terpenes around 1 to 2 percent, and indoor yields near 450 to 550 grams per square meter sketch a reliable performance envelope. Add in resilience to temperature swings and predictable phenotypic expression, and you have a cultivar that rewards growers with fewer surprises and steady quality.
Whether you are building a stable rotation for continuous production or seeking a comforting evening strain with an authentic mountain character, Alpujarrena earns its place. It is a model of functional breeding aimed at real-world gardens rather than contest stages. For many, that quiet reliability is exactly what makes it special.
