King Louis Strain

King Louis Strain: The Pine-Forest Indica From Southern California

The King Louis strain — sold just as often as King Louis XIII — is a heavy, indica-leaning OG that made its name in Southern California dispensaries. Most databases list it as OG Kush crossed with LA Confidential, two California heavyweights, and it smells exactly like that pairing suggests: pine forest, damp earth, wood and a peppery spice, with a faint citrus edge. The high comes on fast and lands in the body — relaxed, hungry and, with a little more, sleepy. It belongs in the evening corner of any THCA flower collection.

It's also a strain with a fuzzy paper trail. Nobody knows who bred it, some sources doubt the LA Confidential half entirely, and the potency numbers range from about 20% to nearly 30% depending on who you ask. Below: what the sources actually agree on, where they don't, the terpene data, how the high unfolds, how to use it, how to grow it, and how to judge a bag.

King Louis XIII Strain Genetics & Lineage

• Type: Indica-leaning. Leafly lists it as an indica; AllBud calls it an indica-dominant hybrid at about 70% indica / 30% sativa. In practice, the effects read heavy indica.
• Ancestry: OG Kush × LA Confidential per Leafly, CannaConnection, STIIIZY and California grower THC Design. CannaConnection traces LA Confidential to OG LA Affie × Afghani.
• The dissent: Secret Nature writes that the lineage beyond OG Kush is unclear — some say LA Confidential, others call King Louis a pure OG phenotype. Everyone agrees on the OG influence; it's obvious in the pine-fuel nose and the structure.
• Breeder: Unknown. STIIIZY says outright that the original breeder "remains unknown." Seed versions exist (CannaConnection lists a Zamnesia line), but those are later releases, not the origin.
• THC: Leafly lists 21%; STIIIZY around 20%; CannaConnection 20–24% with phenotypes up to 28%; AllBud 24–29%.
• CBD: Negligible. Leafly lists about 1% CBG.
• Aliases: King Louis XIII, King Louie, King Louie XIII, Louis XIII Kush, and on some California menus King Louis OG.

Where the name comes from

The strain is named for Louis XIII, the 17th-century French king — Leafly notes he's best remembered for making wigs fashionable among the French aristocracy. STIIIZY points out it shares a name with the famous luxury cognac, but there's no connection beyond the name. The strain itself is pure Los Angeles: Leafly describes it as well known in Southern California, and it still shows up on California and New Jersey menus under several spellings.

King Louie, King Louis XIII, King Louis OG — same strain?

Mostly, yes. "King Louie" and "King Louis XIII" are the same strain under different spellings, and AllBud's entry is literally titled King Louie XIII. "King Louis OG" is a menu name some California growers use for the same OG-family cut. Leafly also lists two descendants, Gremlin and Louie XIII OG, which are separate strains. We found no documented strain called "King Louie the 8th" (VIII); it's almost always a mix-up with XIII.

King Louis Terpene Profile

Every source we checked agrees on the top three: myrcene leads, followed by limonene and caryophyllene. California grower THC Design publishes an actual lab breakdown for its King Louis cut: myrcene 9.01 mg/g, limonene 8.06 mg/g, caryophyllene 4.04 mg/g, then linalool (2.65), beta-pinene (1.90) and humulene (1.23). That's a high total terpene load for an OG, and it explains why the smell is so loud.

• Myrcene: Earthy, herbal and musky — the most common terpene in cannabis and the one most often associated with heavy, relaxing indicas.
• Limonene: The citrus note under the pine, and a likely reason King Louis feels happy rather than just heavy at first.
• Caryophyllene: Peppery spice and the OG bite on the exhale. It's also the only common terpene known to bind CB2 receptors.
• Linalool and pinene: Lavender-floral softness and fresh pine. THC Design's aroma notes — hops, orange, cinnamon, lavender, pine — line up with this mix.

The "pine forest" everyone describes isn't one terpene. It's myrcene's earthiness, pinene's resin and caryophyllene's spice stacked together, which is the classic OG Kush signature.

Appearance

King Louis grows dense, chunky OG-style nugs in lime to forest green, threaded with orange pistils and buried under milky white trichomes. STIIIZY describes a yellowish-gold hue on well-grown buds; AllBud reviewers describe large, dense buds with "orange hairs" and light green mixed among the white. Leafly's description calls them dense nugs with an overwhelmingly piney smell. A good jar looks frosty all the way down, not just on the tops.

Aroma and Flavor

Open a jar and you get pine first — Leafly's word is "overwhelmingly" — then damp earth, wood and a musky, spicy edge. Secret Nature puts it more bluntly: "a pine forest meets a gas station." Break a bud and the spice and fuel get louder. On the inhale it's pine and earth; on the exhale, pepper, wood and a faint citrus. Leafly lists pine, woody and earthy flavors; CannaConnection pine, citrus and spice; THC Design "spicy, lemon-lime hops with an earthy finish." AllBud reviewers add sour, sweet, nutty and tobacco notes. If yours smells sweet and candy-like, it's probably not the classic cut.

Recreational Effects

King Louis hits fast and settles in the body. AllBud's description says it "is not a creeper" and "hits hard"; CannaConnection calls it a "couch-lock king" that delivers a heavy, "narcotic stone" in quantity. On Leafly, with over 1,000 ratings averaging 4.6 stars, the most-reported effects are:

• Relaxed: the headline — a full-body melt that loosens tension.
• Sleepy: the reason most people buy it. At higher doses it's a bedtime strain.
• Hungry: a strong munchies effect — plan the snacks.
• Happy: a calm, contented mood lift at the front end, likely the limonene.

A minority of AllBud reviewers report the opposite — giggly and wide awake at a low dose. Strains with a strong limonene note can do that for some people, so don't assume the first puff will put you down.

How the high unfolds: onset, peak and duration

• First 5 minutes: heaviness behind the eyes and in the limbs — a quick, obvious change.
• 15–60 minutes: the peak — body fully relaxed, mind quiet and content, appetite switched on.
• 1–3 hours: a slow slide toward the couch and, with enough, sleep. Secret Nature puts the full arc at 2–4 hours.

Use it when you've got nothing left to do. It's not a strain for errands, workouts or anything that needs focus.

→ Experience it yourself — shop Diesel Hemp's THCA Flower

How Strong Is King Louis? Is It a Strong Strain?

Yes — King Louis is a genuinely strong strain, though not a record-setter. Its reputation comes more from how hard and fast the body effect lands than from headline THC numbers. The published figures vary a lot by source and cut:

• Leafly: 21% THC, about 1% CBG.
• STIIIZY: often around 20%.
• CannaConnection: 20–24% on average, with some phenotypes up to 28%.
• AllBud: 24–29%; one reviewer posted a 26.2% THC result.
• THC Design (grower lab test): 26.4% total THC and 30.9% total cannabinoids on one batch.

Is it the strongest indica? No single strain holds that title — potency varies more by grower and batch than by name. A well-grown King Louis in the mid-20s is a heavy hitter for most people, and the myrcene-heavy profile makes it feel stronger in the body than the number suggests.

THCA flower is labeled differently from dispensary flower: the lab reports THCA, which converts to THC when heated, plus a small amount of delta-9 THC. When you compare a King Louis batch against the 20–28% range above, compare total THC on the COA, not the headline number — our guide on how to read a THCA flower COA walks through the math.

King Louis vs Similar Strains

• vs OG Kush: the pine-fuel parent. OG Kush is a little more balanced and heady; King Louis is heavier and sleepier.
• vs LA Confidential: the smooth, piney indica parent. King Louis keeps its sedation and adds more OG spice and potency.
• vs Skywalker OG and SFV OG: fellow heavy SoCal OGs, the comparisons Secret Nature draws. Skywalker is more spice-and-diesel; SFV more lemon-pine.
• vs Godfather OG and Bubba Kush: other sedating evening OGs. Bubba is earthier and more coffee-chocolate; Godfather adds a grape note.
• vs Kush Mints and White Truffle: STIIIZY's picks — modern kush crosses with a similar relaxed body but sweeter, gassier noses.
• vs Permanent Marker: not an OG and nothing like King Louis on flavor — it's a modern (Biscotti × Sherb Bx) × Jealousy hybrid with a loud chemical-gas-and-candy nose. We list it as the closest match on our shelf for one reason: the heavy, relaxing evening body is in the same league. If you want closer flavor, Mule Fuel brings earthy diesel with pepper, citrus and pine.

Who King Louis Is (and Isn't) For

Good fit: experienced smokers who want a classic pine-and-earth OG for the evening; anyone looking for a wind-down or bedtime strain; fans of old-school California kush.

Poor fit: beginners, daytime users, or anyone who needs to stay productive — CannaConnection says it's not the best option for an energetic or productive experience. For something lighter, try one puff of Mule Fuel and wait.

How to Use King Louis THCA Flower — and How Much

THCA has to be heated to do anything. Raw, it isn't intoxicating; heat converts it to THC (decarboxylation), which is why the method matters as much as the strain.

• Smoking (joint, pipe, bong): the fastest onset. Take one or two small hits, then wait 10–15 minutes before deciding on more.
• Dry-herb vaporizer: a good way to pick out the citrus and lavender under the pine. Around 350–375°F keeps the limonene and linalool bright; 390–410°F brings out the heavier OG body.
• Pre-rolls: the no-prep option — see our THCA pre-rolls.
• Homemade edibles: decarb the flower first. Edibles take 30–120 minutes to kick in and last far longer, so start low and wait the full two hours.

How much? New or occasional users: one small puff, then wait 15–30 minutes — King Louis hits fast and heavy. Regular users usually find two or three hits is plenty for a full evening. You can always add more; you can't take it back.

Medicinal Benefits

These are uses consumers report on Leafly and AllBud, not established clinical outcomes. Individual response varies with dose, tolerance and chemotype.

• Trouble sleeping: the top reason on Leafly — about 37% of reviewers.
• Stress: about 35% of Leafly reviewers.
• Aches and pain: about 31% on Leafly; AllBud also lists chronic aches as its main use.
• Appetite: the strong munchies effect is why some reviewers reach for it.
• Low mood: AllBud lists depression among reported uses, consistent with the happy, calm front end.

For a plain-language primer on how terpenes are thought to shape these effects, see Project CBD on terpenes. Nothing here is medical advice, and nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you take prescription medication or have a health condition, talk to your doctor before using any cannabis product.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Dry mouth and dry eyes — the top negatives on Leafly.
• Dizziness — Leafly's third most-reported negative, usually from taking too much too fast.
• Paranoia or anxiety — less common with this strain, but CannaConnection lists it, especially at high doses.
• Heavy sedation — the point for most people, but a problem if you weren't planning to sleep.

Don't drive or operate anything after using it. Talk to your doctor first if you take prescription medication — especially sedatives or sleep aids — are pregnant or nursing, or have a heart condition.

Is King Louis Top Shelf? How to Judge a Good Bag

• Pine first. A real King Louis smells like a pine forest with earth and spice. A sweet, candy or fruity nose means a different cut — or a different strain.
• A current third-party COA naming the lab, with THCA, delta-9 and total THC. Mid-20s is realistic; 35% claims without paperwork are marketing. Ours are on the lab results page.
• Dense, frosty nugs with orange pistils and trichomes inside the bud, not just on top.
• A proper cure. Secret Nature recommends three to four weeks for this strain; hay or grass smell means it was rushed.
• Name check. King Louis, King Louie and King Louis XIII are the same strain. "King Louie VIII" isn't a documented strain.

Growing King Louis XIII

Sources disagree on difficulty: CannaConnection calls King Louis XIII easy, Secret Nature moderate, and STIIIZY challenging. The common thread is humidity — dense OG buds are prone to mold, so airflow matters more than anything.

• Flowering: about 8–9 weeks per CannaConnection; Secret Nature says 8–10; STIIIZY about two months.
• Yield: around 500 g/m² indoors and 600 g per plant outdoors (CannaConnection). Secret Nature calls it moderate.
• Height: medium, short and bushy — good for small tents and sea of green.
• Climate: prefers warm, dry conditions. Keep humidity at 50–60%, dropping to about 40% late in flower.
• Training: LST and SOG both work well; stake heavy colas late in flower.
• Outdoors: harvest around early October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Is King Louis THCA Flower Legal?

Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is federally legal when it contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis — see the USDA hemp program. THCA flower is sold under that rule. State laws differ and are changing, so check your state before you order. And whatever the label says, THCA flower will show up on a drug test — heated, it is THC.

Shop Premium Flower at Diesel Hemp

• Permanent Marker THCA Flower — our heavy, indica-leaning evening hybrid — a deep, relaxing body high.
• THCA Flower — the full lineup, grown in Colorado by Diesel Hemp and partner farms.
• THCA Pre-Rolls — the same flower, pre-rolled.
• THCA Small Buds — same genetics, smaller nugs, better price per gram.
• What THCA flower actually is — the encyclopedia explainer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is King Louis indica or sativa?

King Louis is an indica — Leafly lists it as one, and AllBud calls it an indica-dominant hybrid at about 70% indica. Its effects (relaxed, sleepy, hungry) are classic heavy indica.

Is King Louis a strong strain?

Yes. Leafly lists 21% THC, most sources 20–28%, and one California grower's lab test came in at 26.4% total THC. It hits fast and heavy in the body, so start with one small puff.

What is King Louis strain good for?

Mostly evenings and winding down. On Leafly, reviewers most often report using it for trouble sleeping (about 37%), stress (35%) and aches (31%). These are consumer reports, not medical claims.

Is King Louis XIII the same as King Louis?

Yes. King Louis, King Louis XIII, King Louie and Louis XIII Kush are all names for the same strain. King Louis OG is a menu name some California growers use for the same OG-family cut.

What strain is King Louie the 8th?

We couldn't find any documented strain called King Louie the 8th (VIII). It's almost always a mix-up with King Louis XIII, the OG Kush × LA Confidential indica.

What is King Louis a cross of?

Most sources list OG Kush × LA Confidential, both California strains. Some, like Secret Nature, say the lineage beyond OG Kush is unclear and that it may be a pure OG phenotype. The original breeder is unknown.

What does King Louis taste like?

Pine and earth on the inhale, then pepper, wood and a faint citrus on the exhale. Some growers' cuts add lemon-lime and hops notes.

Is King Louis good for sleep?

For most people, yes — sleepy is one of its top reported effects. A few reviewers find it giggly and stimulating at low doses, so the dose matters.

Is King Louis good for beginners?

Not really. It's potent and hits fast. If you try it, take one small puff and wait 15–30 minutes before taking more.

What terpenes are in King Louis?

Myrcene is dominant, followed by limonene and caryophyllene. One published lab test also showed linalool, pinene and humulene.

How long does King Louis take to flower?

About 8–10 weeks indoors, with outdoor harvests around early October. It stays medium-height and bushy, and it needs low humidity late in flower.

Where can I buy King Louis THCA flower online?

King Louis isn't in the Diesel Hemp shop right now. The closest match is Permanent Marker THCA Flower — not an OG, but a heavy, indica-leaning hybrid with the same deep evening body, ½oz for $65, third-party lab tested, with free shipping over $75. Want the earthy, peppery pine-and-citrus flavor? Try Mule Fuel.

Related Strains

• OG Kush — the pine-fuel parent.
• LA Confidential — the smooth indica parent.
• Skywalker OG — a fellow heavy SoCal OG.
• SFV OG — another Los Angeles OG with a lemon-pine nose.
• Godfather OG — a sleepy, indica-dominant OG for the evening.
• Bubba Kush — the earthy classic in the same sedating lane.
• Kush Mints — a modern kush cross often compared with King Louis.
• Permanent Marker — our closest in-stock match on body and evening use.
• Mule Fuel — our closest in-stock match on earthy, peppery gas.
• Browse the Full Diesel Hemp Encyclopedia