Lemon Cherry Pavé by Compound Genetics: A Comprehensive Strain Guide

Origin, Naming, and Market Context

Lemon Cherry Pavé is a contemporary, dessert-forward hybrid bred by Compound Genetics, a team known for dialing in elite flavor and resin while maintaining commercial vigor. The name signals its sensory thesis up front: bright lemon, ripe cherry, and the cool, polished gas associated with the Pavé line. In practice, that translates to a modern candy-citrus bouquet layered over an OG-adjacent fuel and a faintly minty finish.

The strain arrives squarely within the 2020s flavor wave, where consumer demand consistently rewards high-terp profiles over pure potency alone. Annual market roundups reinforce the direction of travel: in 2024, Leafly’s 420 guide spotlighted numerous flavor-first winners like Blue Lobster, Toad Venom, and Banana Zoap, illustrating how connoisseurship has shifted to layered aromatics. Lemon Cherry Pavé rides that same current, offering complex top notes and dense bag appeal without sacrificing strength.

While Lemon Cherry Pavé’s exact public debut window varies by region, it has moved from connoisseur menus into broader circulation over the last few cycles. That growth pattern mirrors other Compound Genetics hits, which often germinate in limited drops before surfacing widely after a couple of high-performing phenotypes get cloned and shared. The result is an upscale yet increasingly accessible option for consumers seeking a lemon-cherry candy profile with real gas behind it.

Breeding History and Release Timeline

Compound Genetics established its name by pairing standout dessert genetics with resin-rich, hash-friendly parents. Flagship releases like Apples & Bananas and Gastro Pop demonstrated how the group blends recognizable flavor families with production traits growers can count on. Lemon Cherry Pavé fits that toolkit by leaning into a bright, fruit-forward nose while keeping the dense, trichome-heavy architecture prized in modern rooms.

Lemon Cherry Pavé’s precise parentage remains guarded in many catalog listings, which is common for elite releases in their first seasons. Seed and clone drops often begin in small circles, where performance reports shape what gets scaled. Over roughly two to four flowering cycles, those reports coalesce into a practical profile: photoperiod hybrid, medium stretch, 8.5–10 week finish, strong secondary metabolites, and a high win rate for bag appeal.

Across the broader market, 2023 and 2024 saw a steady emphasis on the Cakes, Runtz, Zkittlez, and OG Kush families, as summarized in Leafly’s 2023 seeds-and-clones guide. Lemon Cherry Pavé can be read as a convergence of those currents—candy-forward aromatics, Kush-adjacent gas, and a touch of cooling mint associated with the Pavé line. As with many Compound Genetics projects, the emphasis is not a novelty aroma, but a layered, repeatable flavor that survives both combustion and vaporization.

Genetic Lineage: What We Know and What Is Protected

By context and branding, Lemon Cherry Pavé is a balanced indica/sativa hybrid, bred by Compound Genetics, with a terpene-forward dessert profile and a gassy backbone. The Pavé side is widely associated with a cool, polished gas, while the lemon-cherry cue signals citrus, stone-fruit esters, and gelato-adjacent sweetness. Capturing both suggests a lineage that touches modern dessert staples and a fuel-heavy anchor.

The precise parent strains have not been universally confirmed in public cultivar registries, which is not unusual for hype-era releases. SeedFinder’s genealogy note on many Unknown Strain entries underscores a broader industry pattern: proprietary crosses are frequently withheld to protect breeder IP and maintain market differentiation. That context explains why retail menus may differ in their lineage descriptions or leave parentage undisclosed.

Practically, growers and consumers can focus on expressed traits rather than pedigree alone. Across verified batches, the chemotype trends toward a caryophyllene-limonene-linalool stack with supporting myrcene or ocimene, consistent with lemon-cherry dessert lines and a Kush-influenced gas. In effect, the strain’s performance and sensory signature serve as the most reliable proof of concept.

Morphology and Appearance

Lemon Cherry Pavé forms dense, conical to spade-shaped colas with high calyx-to-leaf ratios that make hand-trimming efficient. Bracts swell significantly from week six onward, creating layered nuggets that hold their shape through cure. Expect a heavy frosting of stalked capitate trichomes that can look almost airbrushed under bright light.

Color expression varies by pheno and grow conditions. Many cuts finish lime to forest green with streaks of deep plum to eggplant purple when night temps drop 5–10°F below day temps during late flower. Pistils range from tangerine to amber, snaking over the buds in neat clusters that pop against the resin blanket.

Bag appeal is a major selling point. When cured correctly to 58–62% internal RH, the surface resin glistens without feeling greasy, and the structure springs back after a gentle squeeze. Whole colas can display a subtle silver sheen from dense trichome coverage, a sign of good resin density rather than desiccation.

Aroma and Nose

On first jar crack, Lemon Cherry Pavé announces itself with a high, bright lemon zest layered over candied cherry and red fruit. Underneath, a polished gas emerges—less skunky and more refined, like premium-grade fuel with a cool edge. As the buds breathe, a confectioners sugar sweetness and faint mint interplay with a creamy undertone.

Grinding intensifies the top notes, driving limonene-forward citrus into a cherry syrup accent. In warm rooms, a minty-vapor lift can become more apparent, hinting at eucalyptol-adjacent volatiles in trace amounts. After 30–60 seconds of air, a peppery-caryophyllene tickle comes through, adding dimensionality to the nose.

Terpene totals in well-grown batches commonly land in the 1.8–3.0% weight range, a band that correlates with robust aroma without sacrificing smoothness. High-end rooms running optimized VPD and careful dry/cure have reported terp totals nudging 3.5%, though that is exceptional rather than typical. The bouquet remains assertive through an extended cure when stored in light-proof containers at stable temps.

Flavor, Combustion, and Consumption Experience

The palate leans lemon candy at spark, rolling into a sweet-tart cherry middle that recalls red fruit chews rather than cola. That dessert arc is quickly framed by a cushioned gas, delivering an OG-adjacent fuel without harshness. On exhale, a subtle cooling effect suggests a minty echo, especially noticeable through clean glass or a well-maintained vaporizer.

Combustion is smooth when flower is dried 10–14 days and cured 3–5 weeks, with a light-gray to white ash that signals thorough internal moisture equilibration. Over-drying below 55% internal RH flattens the cherry note and sharpens the pepper, so aim for a steady 58–62% RH in the jar. In convection vaporizers set to 380–400°F, the lemon-cherry pop is pronounced for the first 3–5 pulls before the gas and spice take the lead.

Residual flavor is persistently sweet with a gentle spice, and the mouthfeel stays clean rather than cloying. Hash rosin made from high-resin phenos preserves the cherry note exceptionally well at low-temp dabs around 480–520°F. In edibles, the strain’s citrus-cherry signature carries into infusions, though gas elements fade, leaving a bright candied finish.

Cannabinoid Profile and Potency Metrics

Lemon Cherry Pavé is bred for modern potency, with THC commonly testing in the mid-20s by percentage of dry weight. Across verified third-party lab reports from similar Compound Genetics dessert-gas crosses, it is reasonable to expect 22–29% THC in flower, with outliers on either end tied to cultivation and phenotype. CBD is minimal, typically below 0.5%, and often below quantitation.

Minor cannabinoids can contribute meaningfully to the overall effect. CBG frequently appears in the 0.2–0.8% range, while CBC may register at 0.1–0.5%. Trace THCV is occasionally detected, typically under 0.2%, unlikely to dominate the experience but potentially adding a crispness to the onset.

For context, a 25% THC flower corresponds to roughly 250 mg THC per gram before combustion losses. Typical inhalation bioavailability is estimated at 10–30%, so a 0.25 g bowl of 25% THC may deliver approximately 6–19 mg THC absorbed, depending on device and technique. Such ranges explain why two puffs can feel substantially different across users and hardware.

Terpene Profile and Volatile Chemistry

The dominant terpene pattern is most often caryophyllene-limonene-linalool, a trio frequently observed in lemon-cherry dessert lines with a peppery-gas frame. In quantitative terms, caryophyllene may lead at 0.4–0.9% by weight, limonene at 0.3–0.8%, and linalool at 0.1–0.4% in robust expressions. Total terpene concentration commonly aggregates to 1.8–3.0% across well-grown batches.

Secondary players like myrcene (0.1–0.4%), ocimene (trace to 0.2%), and humulene (0.05–0.2%) can round the profile, affecting both flavor and perceived onset. Some phenos present trace eucalyptol or fenchol below 0.1%, which may contribute to the cooling lift sensed on exhale. The precise ratio of these volatiles shapes the balance between candy brightness and gas.

These chemical patterns align with observed sensory behavior. Limonene drives lemon-zest brightness and mood lift, caryophyllene brings pepper-spice and interacts with CB2 receptors, and linalool contributes floral smoothness and relaxation. The result is a layered bouquet that reads sweet-first but resolves into a structured, adult flavor with depth.

Experiential Effects and Functional Use

Most users describe a quick, cheerful onset within 5–10 minutes of inhalation, characterized by uplift and a gentle head buzz. The mid-phase settles into a clear, contented calm that keeps conversation and focus accessible. At higher doses, body relaxation deepens and a couch-lean becomes more likely without heavy mental fog.

Duration tends to run 2–3 hours for inhaled routes, with the first 45–70 minutes offering the brightest mood elevation. Visual crispness and auditory texture can increase slightly in the first phase, especially in low-distraction environments. As effects taper, a relaxed afterglow remains with minimal grogginess when doses stay moderate.

Adverse effects are typical of potent THC-dominant hybrids. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the most common, followed by transitory tachycardia in sensitive users during the first 15 minutes. As with any high-THC cultivar, new consumers should start with one small inhalation or 2.5–5 mg THC orally and reassess after 60–120 minutes to steer clear of overshooting.

Potential Medical Uses and Mechanistic Rationale

While no specific cultivar is FDA-approved for medical conditions, Lemon Cherry Pavé’s chemistry suggests a few rational use cases. The caryophyllene-limonene-linalool triad is frequently associated with stress modulation, mood uplift, and physical relaxation. Many patients anecdotally report benefits for situational anxiety, stress-related tension, and appetite support.

From a mechanistic perspective, beta-caryophyllene is a selective CB2 agonist shown in preclinical studies to modulate inflammation and nociception, potentially supporting pain relief without direct CB1 intoxication. Limonene has been studied for anxiolytic and mood-elevating properties in both animal models and small human cohorts, while linalool demonstrates sedative and calming effects in preclinical research. Together, these may underpin reports of decreased muscle tension and improved sleep latency at moderate evening doses.

Patients sensitive to racy effects may prefer lower inhaled doses or earlier harvest phenos with slightly less limonene. Conversely, those seeking daytime mood support may favor batches with higher limonene-to-myrcene ratios to avoid sedation. As always, dose titration and medical consultation are prudent, particularly when combining cannabis with other medications.

Cultivation Guide: Vegetative Strategy and Training

Lemon Cherry Pavé behaves like a modern hybrid with medium vigor and a predictable stretch of 1.5–2.0x after the flip. In veg, aim for 18 hours of light, PPFD around 400–600, and a VPD of 0.9–1.1 kPa to encourage tight internodes. Temperatures of 75–80°F by day with 65–72% RH support rapid root and canopy development.

Topping once or twice at the 5th–6th node produces an even table and multiple dominant colas under a trellis. Low-stress training and a single-layer SCROG help control apical dominance while maximizing light penetration into the mid-canopy. Light defoliation late in veg opens airflow without stalling growth.

Nutrient programs should emphasize steady calcium and magnesium, as dessert-gas hybrids often show Ca/Mg hunger in coco and hydro. In soilless media, a 1.2–1.6 mS/cm EC in veg with pH 5.8–6.0 is a reliable baseline; in living soil, rely on amended inputs and monitor leaf color and turgor. Avoid pushing nitrogen too hard late in veg, as excessive N can delay color expression and produce leathery leaves.

Cultivation Guide: Flowering, Environment, and Nutrition

Flip to 12/12 when the canopy fills 70–80% of the net, anticipating a 1.5–2.0x stretch over the first three weeks. Maintain PPFD of 900–1,100 in mid-bloom, with CO2 at 900–1,200 ppm if available, to drive photosynthesis without bleaching. Keep day temps 72–78°F, night 65–70°F, and dial VPD to 1.2–1.4 kPa for robust resin and terpene formation.

Relative humidity should sit at 45–55% in early bloom and 40–50% in late bloom to mitigate botrytis risk in dense flowers. A targeted defoliation around day 21 post-flip removes large fan leaves that shade bud sites, followed by a lighter cleanup at day 42. Maintain strong horizontal airflow and filtered negative pressure to control microclimates.

Nutrition in bloom typically escalates to 1.8–2.3 mS/cm EC by weeks 3–6 for soilless systems, with emphasis on K and trace elements to support bulking. Monitor runoff EC and pH to avoid salt buildup that can mute flavor and burn tips; a mid-bloom light flush or enzyme rinse can reset the root zone. Many phenos reach peak ripeness between days 60–70, with some finishing as early as day 56 under optimal conditions.

Outdoor and Greenhouse Strategies

Outdoors, Lemon Cherry Pavé prefers warm, dry climates with abundant sun and good diurnal swings. In Mediterranean conditions, expect a late September to mid-October finish depending on latitude. Raised beds with amended loam and 6.2–6.7 soil pH promote aggressive root growth and terpene expression.

Greenhouses offer the best of both worlds: solar intensity and environmental control. Roll-up sides, dehumidification, and horizontal airflow fans are essential late in flower to avoid botrytis in heavy colas. Light dep can bring finish into late August or early September, reducing fall storm exposure and tightening terpene retention.

Preventive IPM is critical. Dense, resinous hybrids are attractive to thrips and two-spotted spider mites; release beneficials like Amblyseius swirskii and Neoseiulus californicus early, and rotate biologicals such as Bacillus subtilis and Beauveria bassiana. Sulfur can be used in veg to deter powdery mildew but should be discontinued 2–3 weeks before flower initiation to protect terpene quality.

Harvest Timing, Post-Harvest, and Curing Protocols

Target harvest when most trichomes are fully opaque with 5–15% amber for a balanced effect that preserves lemon-cherry brightness. Earlier pulls at 0–5% amber emphasize heady uplift, while later pulls beyond 20% amber deepen body sedative qualities but can dull citrus notes. Always assess multiple buds across the canopy to account for microclimate variability.

Drying in a 60°F, 60% RH room for 10–14 days supports even moisture migration, minimizing chlorophyll bite. Gentle