Green House Seeds: a seed bank that became the benchmark of global cannabis seed breeding

In the history of cannabis seeds, there are brands whose names have become synonymous with quality, and Green House Seeds is exactly such a case. Founded in Amsterdam, this seed bank has grown from a local breeding project into the most awarded brand in the industry. Today, Green House Seeds Amsterdam is not just a seed producer, but a symbol of professional breeding, pure genetics, and worldwide recognition.

The founding of Green House Seeds: the beginning of a great story

Green House Seeds was founded in 1995 in Amsterdam. At the origins of the brand stood Arjan Roskam, an entrepreneur and visionary who later earned the nickname “King of Cannabis”. From the very beginning, his idea was not to mass-copy popular strains, but to create a seed bank based on real breeding work and hands-on tasting practice.

A key role in shaping the genetic foundation of Green House Seeds was played by Franco Loja — a breeder whose name is forever written into the history of cannabis culture. He became the architect of the brand’s breeding philosophy.

Breeding philosophy: landraces as the foundation of quality

The main distinction of the Green House Seeds seed bank is its conscious focus on pure genetics. While many brands concentrated on commercial hybrids, the Green House Seeds team began large-scale work with landraces.

Franco Loja’s expeditions covered:

• India and the Himalayas;
• Africa;
• South America;
• Southeast Asia.

The goal was both simple and complex: to preserve the original properties of the plant without destroying them through aggressive hybridization. This is why Green House Seeds strains stand out not only for high THC levels, but also for complex terpene profiles, depth of effect, and a recognizable character.

Green House Seeds and the Cannabis Cup: records proven over decades

Throughout its existence, Green House Seeds has become the absolute record holder for the number of victories at international cannabis competitions. In the cannabis seed industry, this achievement is still considered unique and largely unmatched.

Here is a brief list of awards and nominations in competitions:

• 40+ wins at the High Times Cannabis Cup
  
• Award-winning placements in Europe, the USA, and other regions
  
• Victories achieved by sativas, indicas, and hybrids, not just one genetic type
  
• Awards spread over more than 20 years
  
• Both classic and new strains have received recognition

An important feature: Green House Seeds won competitions not thanks to a single hit strain, but due to systematic breeding work and a broad genetic portfolio.

Selected Green House Seeds awards by year

Interesting fact: “Super Lemon Haze is one of the most awarded strains in the history of the Cannabis Cup, and a significant portion of those victories is directly linked to Green House Seeds’ breeding.”

Why these records truly matter

The High Times Cannabis Cup is a competition where strains are evaluated based on a combination of characteristics:

• genetic stability;
• clarity and purity of effect;
• aroma and flavor;
• overall plant quality and final product.

Green House Seeds Amsterdam maintained its leadership for decades, which speaks to the brand’s key quality — consistency of results. These are not random phenotypes or one-time successes, but a systematic breeding approach.

Iconic Green House Seeds strains

Over the years, Green House Seeds has created a number of strains that have become classics and remain relevant today:

1. White Widow — one of the most recognizable strains in the world;
2. Super Lemon Haze — a legendary sativa and multiple Cannabis Cup winner;
3. Neville’s Haze — a benchmark of the “old school”;
4. Cheese — a strain with a unique aroma and character;
5. Trainwreck — a powerful hybrid with a bright, energetic effect.

The company offers a wide but logically structured assortment:

• photoperiod feminized strains;
• autoflowering versions of iconic genetics;
• fast flowering hybrids;
• CBD lines;
• regular seeds for breeders.

At the same time, the brand maintains a balance between innovation and classic genetics, without abandoning its breeding identity.

The legacy of Franco Loja and the brand’s development

After Franco Loja passed away in 2017, Green House Seeds did not lose its direction. His philosophy — respect for the plant, nature, and genetics — remains the foundation of the company’s breeding work.

Today, Green House Seeds is not only a seed bank, but also part of a broader cannabis culture: documentary projects, educational materials, and an international community of growers.

Conclusion

Green House Seeds is a seed bank whose influence on the cannabis seed industry is difficult to overestimate. Founded in Amsterdam and grown from the idea of working with pure, authentic genetics, the brand managed to set standards that the market still follows today.

Decades of breeding work, a record number of Cannabis Cup awards, and iconic strains that have become classics have made Green House Seeds Amsterdam a synonym for stability and quality. This is a rare case where a big name is backed by decades of real results rather than short-term trends.

For growers, Green House Seeds means predictable results and time-tested genetics. For the industry, it is a benchmark of professional breeding. For cannabis history, it is one of the key brands without which the modern cannabis seed market would look very different.

That is why Green House Seeds remains relevant regardless of changing trends and technologies, continuing to hold its position as one of the most authoritative seed banks in the world.