Key Lime Pie
Also known as: Key Lime GSC, Key Lime Cookies, Key Lime, KLP
Breeder: Burning Bush Nurseries
Key Lime Pie is an indica-dominant phenotype of Girl Scout Cookies stabilized by Burning Bush Nurseries in Northern California during the early 2010s. Selected for a brighter citrus-forward nose, heavy resin production, and soothing indica effects, it carved out a distinct identity from its GSC parent through its lime zest, vanilla, and mint bouquet. Known for dense, purple-tinted buds and strong potency that can overwhelm less experienced consumers.
Lineage & Genetics
Cross: Girl Scout Cookies (phenotype selection)
Girl Scout Cookies (Thin Mint GSC cut, probably): OG Kush [South Florida] x F1 Durban. The OG Kush component traces to an Emerald Triangle unknown crossed with Hindu Kush. F1 Durban derives from South African sativa landrace (KwaZulu-Natal). Burning Bush Nurseries selected within this GSC population for limonene-dominant expression and indica-leaning growth.
Lineage Dispute
Not a traditional cross — KLP is a phenotype selected from GSC (OG Kush x Durban Poison). Some sources (AskGrowers) incorrectly list Cherry Pie parentage. SeedFinder and the breeder confirm it as a GSC pheno stabilized by Burning Bush Nurseries. Purple Caper Seeds also claims a version backcrossed from a Santa Cruz GSC clone with a GSC F2 male.
Terpene Profile
Limonene — Bright citrus, lemon zest
Caryophyllene — Spicy, peppery warmth
Myrcene — Earthy, herbal, musky foundation
Linalool — Floral, lavender sweetness
Aroma: Immediately recognizable lime zest dominates, backed by cool mint, cotton candy sweetness, chocolate, and warm spice. Jar appeal is strong — the citrus jumps on opening.
Flavor: Lime candy and mint on the inhale with chocolate cream, earthy pepper, and a graham-cracker cookies undertone on the exhale. Smooth smoke with a creamy, dessert-like finish.
Effects & Experience
Onset: Fast-acting heavy stoned sensation within 5–15 minutes; hits hard with an immediate body weight
Couch-lock and drowsiness paired with surprising cerebral clarity and creativity. Strong indica body effects with a lucid, focused headspace. Can be overwhelming for novice users.
Duration: 1–3 hours depending on tolerance and dose
Commonly Reported Uses
Growing Characteristics
Grow Tips: Top early and aggressively to open canopy — the bushy structure restricts light and airflow to lower sites. High calyx-to-leaf ratio makes trimming easy. Heavy resin production makes it an excellent hash/rosin candidate; fresh-freeze for best terpene preservation in solventless extraction. The 70–120μ range washes well.
History & Origin
Emerged in the San Francisco Bay Area during the early 2010s. Burning Bush Nurseries, a Northern California breeder known for dessert-forward cookie cuts, selected and stabilized this GSC phenotype for its brighter citrus nose and creamier indica finish. Initially spread through clone-only elite circles before seed versions appeared. By 2018, farms like Flowerdaze had KLP in regular rotation, marking its transition from boutique novelty to accessible mainstay. Purple Caper Seeds independently developed a seed version from a Santa Cruz GSC clone backcrossed with a GSC F2 male.
Awards & Recognition
- ●3rd Place Solventless Cartridge — 2022 Emerald Cup (Arcata Fire x Highwater Farms)
- ●Key Lime Pie derivative 'Thunder Pie' (ATF x KLP) placed 15th in Rosin at High 95 competition
Notable Crosses
Strains bred using Key Lime Pie as a parent:
Sources & References (12)
- SeedFinder.eu — Burning Bush Nurseries lineage/genealogy page
- SeedFinder.eu — Purple Caper Seeds lineage page
- Weedmaps — Key Lime Pie strain page
- Leafly — Key Lime Pie strain page
- AllBud — Key Lime Pie strain page
- AskGrowers — Key Lime Pie strain review
- JointCommerce — Key Lime Pie by Burning Bush Nurseries comprehensive guide
- JointCommerce — Key Lime Pie by Purple Caper Seeds comprehensive guide
- Growers Choice Seeds — Key Lime Pie growing guide
- Pure Canna Co — Key Lime Pie THCa Cold Cured Rosin product (wash data)
- Emerald Cup 2022 winners list
- High 95 competition finalists (Thunder Pie rosin placement)
Want to Grow Key Lime Pie?
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