Written by Ad OpsIntroduction & Overview of Nigerian (Scott Family Farms)
Nigerian is a vigorous, legacy-leaning sativa bred and popularized by Scott Family Farms, prized for its electric energy, citrus-forward bouquet, and long, tapering blossoms. While many modern cultivars skew toward quick-finishing, indica-dominant hybrids, Nigerian preserves the soaring, cerebral qualities that connoisseurs associate with classic West African and Haze-adjacent sativas. Growers and extractors value its combination of high calyx-to-leaf ratio, terpene richness, and dynamic resin, which together translate into efficient trims and flavorful concentrates.
On dispensary menus and breeder catalogs, Nigerian is often referenced simply as a “Nigerian sativa,” signaling a heritage that leans heavily into equatorial growth patterns and uplifting effects. This reputation is reinforced by its frequent appearance in high-end breeding projects where it contributes aroma complexity, heady clarity, and production-friendly structure. In short, Nigerian is the type of sativa that can anchor a breeding room and a top shelf alike.
The Scott Family Farms cut has earned particular respect within breeder circles, enough that it is chosen as a foundational parent in several modern hybrids. In product write-ups and buyer guides, Nigerian and its related progeny are commonly recommended as daytime, creativity-forward picks for experienced consumers. Whether grown indoors under intense LEDs or outdoors in warm autumns, Nigerian’s performance profile is consistent: tall, aromatic, and undeniably sativa.
History and Origins
Scott Family Farms is credited with stewarding and selecting the Nigerian cut that circulates in contemporary genetics circles. While precise provenance is closely held, the cultivar’s morphology and effects point toward a West African sativa heritage, refined through modern selection for resin, aroma, and manageable internodal spacing. Breeding notes and grower anecdotes consistently describe it as a true sativa in growth profile, with late-season maturation reminiscent of equatorial lines.
Nigerian’s influence is documented in notable hybrids, affirming its historical significance as a donor of vigor and cerebral effect. Industry coverage has spotlighted its role in modern crosses, and breeders frequently describe it as a “prized” sativa parent. This legacy reflects a larger trend where older, landrace-influenced sativas are reintroduced to diversify flavor and elevate the experiential clarity of today’s hybrids.
Market references to Nigerian and “Nigerian Silk” also appear in lineage maps, pointing to a family of related or similarly named sativa lines that have been blended with Haze and other classics. While it’s essential to distinguish the Scott Family Farms Nigerian from every Nigerian-named variety, the repeated use of “Nigerian” across breeding projects underscores its strong brand of sativa character. The common thread is unmistakable: bright terpenes, lofty effects, and an affinity for careful, long-flower cultivation.
Genetic Lineage and Notable Hybrids
The core Nigerian as circulated by Scott Family Farms is understood as a sativa-dominant line with equatorial traits, though exact parental names are not publicly detailed. Its genetic fingerprint is expressed in tall stature, elongated colas, and a terpene array that frequently centers on terpinolene, limonene, ocimene, and beta-caryophyllene. These chemotypic clues align it with other African-influenced and Haze-related families without reducing it to a single, documented landrace.
Nigerian’s reputation in breeding is grounded in real-world examples. Swamp Boys Seeds’ Horace combines Banana OG with their prized Nigerian sativa, as noted in New Strains Alert coverage, showcasing Nigerian’s ability to inject zest, spice, and cerebral lift into a dessert-forward OG parent. The result is an aromatic, high-performance hybrid whose success points directly back to Nigerian’s robust sativa DNA.
Irie Genetics catalogs also acknowledge Nigerian’s presence in their sativa work, with strain info pages indicating Nigerian-influenced lines and, in some cases, pairing sativa vigor alongside Afghani components in hybrids like Rick Sanchez and Blucifer. Those projects demonstrate how breeders balance Nigerian’s height and late finish with Afghani’s density and rate, often producing phenos that wash well and trim cleanly. Such pairings highlight a pragmatic strategy: harness Nigerian’s top-tier headspace and terpene brightness while tightening structure and flowering time.
Additional lineage notes appear in genealogical resources, where “Nigerian Silk” is seen woven into complex family trees that include A5 Haze—further testament to the compatibility between Nigerian-leaning sativas and the Haze universe. In retail curation, Nigerian Haze has been singled out among standout outdoor sativas, reaffirming the culinary-citrus nose and buoyant effect profile that Nigerian lines contribute. Collectively, these breadcrumbs tell a coherent story: Nigerian is both a keystone sativa parent and a flavor/effect amplifier in modern breeding.
Morphology and Visual Appearance
Nigerian grows with lanky, elegant architecture typical of equatorial sativas, featuring medium-long internodes of approximately 7–15 cm (3–6 inches) under high-intensity lighting. Branching is assertive but not chaotic, especially when trained early, allowing canopies to be shaped into efficient planes for light interception. Expect a 1.8–2.5× stretch after the flip indoors, with the upper end expressed under high CO2 and warm VPD.
Flowers present as tapered, spear-like colas populated by stacked calyxes that resolve into a high calyx-to-leaf ratio. Buds tend to be moderately airy compared with contemporary indica-leaners, with typical dried density in the 0.25–0.35 g/cc range versus 0.35–0.45 g/cc for dense hybrid flowers. This structure promotes airflow in late flower and can reduce botrytis risk, particularly in greenhouses and coastal outdoor sites.
Coloration skews lime to forest green with amber-to-saffron pistils that can turn russet near maturity. Trichome coverage is abundant, and under magnification the capitate-stalked heads appear uniform to slightly mid-sized, which aids both solventless and hydrocarbon extractions. In well-fed, well-lit rooms, subtle foxtailing can occur late, a trait often linked to sativas with high metabolic rates under intense PPFD.
Aroma
Nigerian’s aroma is a bright, layered bouquet that reliably blends citrus zest with woody, herbal, and lightly floral top notes. Many cuts crackle with terpinolene and ocimene brightness—think fresh lime, green mango skin, and sweet-basil snap—anchored by peppery beta-caryophyllene. Secondary threads often include piney alpha- and beta-pinene, plus a faint diesel-mineral tinge from complex monoterpenes.
Cured properly at 60–62% RH for 10–21 days, the nose deepens from sharp citrus to candied rind, with an herbal-spice backbone that can suggest incense or sun-warmed wildflowers. Warm grinding releases a sweet, high-tone perfume that remains clean rather than cloying, a hallmark of sativa-dominant chemotypes rich in terpinolene. The overall impression is invigorating and culinary, closer to a citrus grove and herb garden than to bakery or fuel-only profiles.
Aroma intensity is medium-high, and total terpene content in dialed-in batches commonly lands between 1.5% and 3.5% by weight. Post-harvest handling matters: gentle dry at 60–65°F and 55–60% RH preserves the volatile fraction that drives Nigerian’s signature nose. Over-drying can flatten the top notes by 20–40% as measured by headspace analyses, underscoring the value of slow cures for this cultivar.
Flavor
On inhalation, Nigerian delivers zesty lime, sweet herb, and fresh pine in the first wave, followed by a subtle white-pepper finish. The mid-palate often shows a light, green-tea astringency that reads clean and refreshing rather than bitter. Exhalation leans to candied citrus peel and crisp, resinous woods, with a lingering dryness similar to tonic or quinine.
Vaporization at 175–190°C (347–374°F) emphasizes sweetness and floral lift, while combustion adds pepper-spice from elevated beta-caryophyllene and humulene. In solventless rosin, Nigerian can taste brighter and more effervescent than its raw flower, a consequence of selectively concentrating volatile monoterpenes. Hydrocarbon extracts tend to capture the full spectrum, delivering a layered citrus-herb profile that many tasters rank as exceptionally clean.
Consumers who prefer dessert or gas-heavy profiles may be surprised by Nigerian’s crisp, botanical character. Yet for sativa devotees, its flavor is a benchmark: mouthwatering, complex, and fully daytime-friendly. The finish typically clears the palate within a minute, encouraging repeat sips without palate fatigue.
Cannabinoid Profile
Across verified COAs for batches labeled Nigerian or Nigerian-dominant crosses in legal U.S. markets, total THC commonly ranges from 18% to 24%, with outliers from 15% on the low end to 26% on the high end. THCA typically constitutes 85–95% of total THC pre-decarboxylation, reflecting standard flower chemistry. CBD is usually trace (<0.3%), placing Nigerian squarely in the Type I (THC-dominant) category.
Minor cannabinoids often contribute meaningful nuance. CBG frequently appears between 0.5% and 1.5%, and CBC between 0.2% and 0.6%, supporting a clearer, more sparkling headspace reported by many consumers. Total minor-cannabinoid load of 1–3% is not unusual, particularly in carefully finished outdoor or mixed-light crops.
Potency expression depends on environment and maturity. Under 900–1100 µmol/m²/s PPFD and sufficient CO2 (900–1200 ppm), Nigerian regularly tests at the upper half of its THC range. Conversely, early harvests or nutrient stress can depress THC by 10–20% relative to optimized controls, underscoring the importance of full-term ripeness in a long-flowering sativa.
Terpene Profile
Nigerian frequently presents a terpinolene-forward fingerprint, with typical terpinolene values of 0.30–1.20% by weight in high-terpene flower. Limonene often falls in the 0.20–0.60% band, contributing the sharp-citrus snap that defines its nose. Beta-caryophyllene commonly appears at 0.10–0.40%, adding peppery warmth and potentially interacting with CB2 receptors for nuanced body effects.
Ocimene is a hallmark secondary terpene here, often 0.10–0.50%, enhancing sweetness, green fruit, and herb tones. Pinenes (alpha/beta) typically range 0.10–0.30% combined, rounding out the pine-resin glint that keeps the profile brisk. Trace components like humulene (0.05–0.15%), linalool (0.03–0.10%), and nerolidol (<0.10%) can be detected in fully mature, well-cured batches.
Total terpene content responds markedly to post-harvest protocol. Lots dried at 60–65°F and 55–60% RH, with gentle air exchanges and minimal handling, can retain 20–35% more monoterpenes than rapid-dry programs above 70°F. In extracts, solventless yields of 3–5% of starting dry weight are realistic for Nigerian-dominant resin, while hydrocarbon runs commonly produce 15–25% yields depending on trichome maturity and trim grade.
Experiential Effects
Nigerian’s effect profile is decidedly cerebral, quick in onset, and sustained without heavy body drag for most users. Inhaled routes tend to reach peak effect within 5–10 minutes, with a primary window of 90–150 minutes. Oral routes stretch the arc to 4–6 hours depending on dose and metabolism.
Users consistently describe focused euphoria, creative ideation, and a buoyant, social headspace. Compared to dessert-leaning hybrids, Nigerian shows a lower incidence of couchlock and a higher likelihood of task engagement, particularly in the first hour. Muscular relaxation is present but secondary, often arriving as tension relief in the neck and shoulders rather than full-body heaviness.
As with many high-THC sativas, sensitivity varies. A portion of consumers—often 10–20% in self-reported surveys—note transient anxiety, racing thoughts, or elevated heart rate at higher doses. Starting with small inhalations or 2.5–5 mg THC in edibles is prudent for newer users, titrating upward only after evaluating response over 30–60 minutes.
Potential Medical Uses
While formal clinical trials for Nigerian specifically are not available, its chemistry and consumer reports align with potential daytime applications. High-THC, terpinolene-forward sativas are commonly used anecdotally for low mood, fatigue, task inertia, and social inhibition. Limonene and pinene have been associated in preclinical literature with alertness and mood elevation, while caryophyllene’s CB2 activity may contribute to perceived inflammation modulation.
Some patients report benefit for headache patterns, including tension-related discomfort, likely tied to Nigerian’s combination of vascular dilation, muscle relaxation, and distraction. Others prefer it for appetite priming without heavy sedation, especially earlier in the day. In observational registries, individuals often reach for stimulating sativas during working hours and reserve heavier chemotypes for sleep and pain flares, suggesting Nigerian may fit a complementary daytime niche.
Caution is appropriate for individuals prone to anxiety, panic, or tachycardia. Dose titration and terpene matching matter: batches richer in linalool and humulene may feel smoother than sharply terpinolene-dominant lots for sensitive users. Nothing in this section constitutes medical advice; patients should consult a clinician, especially when combining cannabis with existing medications or mental health treatment plans.
Comprehensive Cultivation Guide
Environment and vigor: Nigerian thrives in warm, high-energy rooms or greenhouses with strong vertical control. Target day temperatures of 78–84°F (25.5–29°C) and nights of 68–72°F (20–22°C), with a VPD of 0.9–1.2 kPa in veg and 1.1–1.4 kPa in flower. Relative humidity should shift from 55–65% in veg to 45–50% in early flower and 40–45% by late flower to preserve terpenes while preventing botrytis.
Lighting and CO2: Provide 500–700 µmol/m²/s PPFD for veg and 900–1100 µmol/m²/s in bloom, scaling toward the top end only with ample root-zone oxygen, airflow, and CO2 (900–1200 ppm). Daily Light Integral (DLI) targets of 35–45 mol/m²/day in veg and 45–60 mol/m²/day in bloom help maximize photosynthesis without overstress. Maintaining a blue-heavy spectrum in early flower (20–25% blue photons) can temper excessive stretch.
Substrate and nutrition: Nigerian performs well in high-oxygen media such as coco coir blends, well-aerated soil, or rockwool. Aim for root-zone pH of 5.8–6.2 in hydro/soilless and 6.3–6.7 in soil. Electrical conductivity (EC) guidelines of 1.4–1.8 in late veg and 1.8–2.2 in peak bloom are typical, with calcium and magnesium supplementation scaled to water source (100–150 ppm Ca/Mg combined in RO-heavy programs).
Training and canopy management: Topping once or twice in veg, followed by low-stress training (LST) and a supportive trellis, keeps Nigerian’s apical dominance in check. Expect a 1.8–2.5× stretch after the flip; dial in plant count accordingly—4 to 6 plants per 1.2 × 1.2 m (4 × 4 ft) tent is common when using SCROG. Supercropping can be applied in early flower to redistribute hormones and create an even canopy without harsh defoliation.
Defoliation strategy: Moderate leaf removal before flip and again at day 21 of flower opens the canopy without stripping essential solar panels. Because Nigerian stacks airy, spear-like colas, excessive defol can reduce terpene and yield potential by 5–15% relative to conservative leafing. Maintain robust lateral airflow (0.5–1.0 m/s at canopy level) instead of over-defoliating to manage microclimate.
Flowering time and harvest: Nigerian typically finishes in 10–12 weeks indoors, with late-October to early-November harvest windows outdoors in temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Some phenotypes are trichome-amber shy; prioritize terpene development and calyx swell over chasing heavy amber. Many growers harvest at ~5–10% amber trichomes with a majority cloudy, which preserves brightness and reduces late-flower degradation.
Yield expectations: In skilled hands, indoor yields of 450–650 g/m² (1.5–2.1 oz/ft²) are attainable with SCROG and high-intensity lighting. Outdoors or in mixed-light greenhouses, 700–1200 g/plant is common when plants are topped early, supported well, and fed steadily through late season. Buds are lighter per unit volume than indica-leaners, but high calyx-to-leaf ratios improve trim speed by 20–30%.
Irrigation and fertigation: Favor small, frequent irrigations that maintain 10–20% runoff in coco/rockwool to prevent salt build-up. In soil, water to full saturation and allow for robust dry-backs; aim for 25–40% container weight loss between events depending on root mass. Introduce PK ramp beginning week 3–4 of flower, but avoid spiking phosphorus excessively—a balanced increase paired with adequate micronutrients keeps terpenes intact.
Pest and disease management: Nigerian’s airier floral structure reduces botrytis incidence compared with dense indica-leaners, but late-flower mildew remains a risk in cool, humid conditions. Prevent with environmental discipline and integrated biologicals: rotate Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in veg and early flower, and deploy predatory mites (Amblyseius swirskii, A. andersoni) for thrips and mite suppression. Avoid foliar sprays after week 2–3 of flower to protect resin and prevent residue.
Outdoor and greenhouse strategy: Nigerian excels in warm, sunny locations with long, dry autumns. Space plants generously—1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft) centers—to enhance airflow, and use double trellis or tomato cages to support long, swaying colas. In coastal or high-dew regions, choose greenhouse or rain cover, prune interior shoots, and harvest in waves from the most mature tops downward to minimize late-season losses.
Post-harvest and curing: Target a 10–14 day dry at 60–65°F and 55–60% RH with gentle, continuous airflow that does not directly hit flowers. Cure in sealed containers with daily burps for the first 7–10 days, stabilizing at 60–62% RH; total terp content can be 20–35% higher than rushed dries according to headspace comparisons. For solventless, harvest slightly earlier than for hydrocarbon extraction to capture a brighter monoterpene fraction and optimal trichome head integrity.
Hash and extraction notes: Breeder accounts and grower experience indicate Nigerian-influenced lines can wash beautifully, a trait echoed in Irie Genetics notes about related Nigerian projects. Expect solventless yields in the 3–5% range of dry weight for dialed-in phenos, with cold-cure rosin showcasing citrus-herb pop. Hydrocarbon extracts typically yield 15–25% depending on material grade and maturity, producing a terpene spectrum that stays crisp and effervescent.
Clonal propagation: Take 8–12 cm (3–5 inch) cuttings from semi-hardwood growth, dip in mild auxin gel (0.3–0.6% IBA), and place under 18 hours of light with 70–80% RH. Rooting in 10–14 days is typical with bottom heat at 24–26°C (75–79°F). Harden off gradually to lower humidity to prevent post-rooting slump and encourage early lateral development.
Market Notes and Notable Mentions
Nigerian’s impact is visible in both boutique breeding and curated retail programs. Swamp Boys Seeds’ Horace, a cross of Banana OG and their prized Nigerian sativa, has been highlighted in strain roundups, reflecting the esteem in which this parent is held. These mentions aren’t mere footnotes—they signal Nigerian’s reliability as a terpene and headspace driver.
Irie Genetics’ strain listings emphasize Nigerian’s sativa pedigree, and in some hybrids they juxtapose that vigor with Afghani components to strike a balance of density, washability, and flowering time. Reports that phenotypes “trim well and wash beautifully” in these Nigerian-influenced projects track with grower anecdotes about calyx-forward flowers and resin quality. As a result, Nigerian’s reputation extends beyond flower into hash culture.
Retail curation has also nodded to Nigerian-adjacent expressions. Leafly’s buyer’s guide for standout outdoor flower cited Nigerian Haze among exemplary sativa selections, underscoring how Nigerian’s citrus-lifted profile translates outdoors with the right terroir. Between breeder rooms and top-shelf jars, Nigerian continues to earn its place as a dependable, high-spirited sativa cornerstone.
