Silent Seeds x Lemon Tree Collaboration

My meeting with Matthew Rockwell, aka “Rocky,” in September 2019 in Santa Cruz, California—he is the founder of both the brand and the collective Lemon Tree, was truly something special for me. I quickly realized that we had a great connection—since we share many common passions, among other things—and that this would lead to an exceptional collaboration in the near future. This collaboration was naturally and logically destined for DINAFEM at the time, but as many of you now know, the way things unfolded didn’t allow for the outcome we’d hoped for—though the final result here is actually quite happy…

Career Plan

It was during a business trip to California in 2019—where I was accompanied by two friends from the industry who are passionate about this sacred plant and have a wide network of contacts there—that this magical, and above all human, adventure finally came to fruition. In the summer of 2019, two friends contacted me and told me they were planning a trip to California, set to depart in early September, to meet with teams from some of the most prestigious companies in the industry there—and because we also had a proposal to launch a new business venture together in California.

I have to admit that we spent 15 exceptional days together, during which we were able to meet many leading figures in the industry based between Los Angeles and the Humboldt region in Northern California. We were fortunate at that time to visit companies with very different business models, ranging from a small collective of authentic, deeply passionate “roots” cannabis growers tucked away in the mountains to indoor grow facilities whose technological equipment and overall investment are comparable to NASA’s mission control center.

We also had the opportunity to visit some professionals who specialize in producing incredibly high-quality cannabis extracts, such as Joe from the Gold Drop brand, which has won numerous awards at the highly renowned “Emerald Cup” held annually in Santa Rosa. It was also very interesting to see the wide variety of concepts for dispensaries designed to sell cannabis. It’s worth noting that the cannabis market was even less saturated there than it is today, so many stakeholders and investors were trying to develop projects of various kinds.

Our trip to the United States—and more specifically to California at that time—originally had the same objective, since the project on the table back then was the development of higher-quality, exotic cannabis strains with unique and exclusive terpene profiles. The concept was comprehensive: large-scale “breeding,” creating exclusive genetics, followed by their release in all formats—from raw flowers to extract products of all kinds, including edibles, a wide range of refined cosmetic products, and top-quality feminized seeds.

Powerful investors, typically from the tech and finance sectors, had the ability to quickly secure significant funding to launch a solid, large-scale project with top-notch infrastructure and high-quality equipment that was state-of-the-art at the time. I have to admit that the many visits we made were so wonderful overall—we were so impressed by the size and quality of work at these cannabis companies that it made us feel like we were walking on air for a while.

Clearly, they wanted to entrust us with an exceptional professional opportunity, with financial terms to match, but we turned down the offer we were given at the time for personal reasons. Looking back now, developments in the California market have shown us that we made the right decision at the time, as market saturation was already imminent…

The Lemon Tree Collective

The Lemon Tree collective, like the brand of the same name, was founded by Matthew Rockwell in the early 2000s, but it wasn’t until 2014—when they won the High Times Cannabis Cup in San Francisco and the competition of the same name in Seattle with their flagship strain, Lemon Tree #1, in the Best Hybrid category—that they began to gain some popularity.

In its recent history, Lemon Tree has won numerous awards in 2017 and 2018, including ^first place in the CBD category at the 2017 Chalice Cup, ^second place in the Best Vape Cartridge category at the 2017 Emerald Cup, ^second place in the Best Vaporizer category at the High Times Northern California Cannabis Cup, ^first place in the Best CBD Vape Cartridge category at the 2018 Chalice Cup, ^second place in the Best “Pen Vaporizer” category at the 2018 High Times Cannabis World Cup,^second place in the Best Vaporizer Cartridge category at the 2018 Emerald Cup, and finally, ^first place in the Best Vaporizer Device category at the 2018 High Times Cannabis Cup.

Here’s an interesting tidbit for anyone familiar with the Santa Cruz skateboard brand—which is very popular in California and around the world—whose designer is none other than Jimbo Phillips, a local artist known for his iconic drawings and graphic designs, and a close friend of “Rocky” from Lemon Tree. It’s worth noting that Jimbo Phillips also creates all the designs for Lemon Tree California.

Lemon Tree has no fewer than 18 unique cultivars —or top-quality cannabis strains—in its genetic library, the best-known of which to date include Lemon Tree #1, Grape Tree, Kiwi Tree, Strawberry Tree, Melon Tree, Gas Tree, Pineapple Tree, Blueberry, Island Vibes, and others.

 

 

Lemon Tree Cannabis Strains

Lemon Tree #1: is the iconic original strain that gave the brand its name; it’s a cross between Lemon Skunk (LT Cut) and Sour Diesel (SC Cut). A cannabis hybrid with a sweet and tangy flavor, featuring a very pronounced lemon intensity on the palate, along with notes of gas and candy. A unique and incomparable experience for anyone who loves lemon!

Grape Tree: is a superb Indica-dominant cannabis hybrid that combines potency, flavor, and visual appeal. Grape Tree is a cross between Grape Pie #11 and Purple Kool-Aid #1. Grape Tree is clearly the most potent Indica strain in their collection. Grape Tree has a deep, sweet flavor reminiscent of sugary grape candies, with hints of hops, lavender, sugar, and earth.

Kiwi Tree: is an Indica-dominant cannabis strain with an incredible tropical terpene profile!
Kiwi Tree is a cross between Northern Lights, Dumpster Funk, and Ringo Limon #8.

Kiwi Tree is a variety so delicious it will make your mouth water like crazy—so much so that you'll find yourself wondering what exactly you're tasting.

Strawberry Tree: is a Sativa-dominant cannabis strain that will make you feel like you’re walking right through a delicious strawberry field!
Strawberry Tree is a cross between (Secret Strawberry x Sweet Tooth) x Sour Skies. Strawberry Tree has the smell and taste of fresh, ripe strawberries, with a sweet, sugary undertone mixed with notes of berries, candy, and earth—a truly unique experience worth discovering!

Melon Tree: is a cannabis hybrid that combines the fresh, sweet flavor of ripe melons with delicate notes of purple lemons. Melon Tree is a cross between (Purple Clemon x Purple Punch) x (Lemon Tree x Colorado Cutie). Melon Tree truly tastes and smells like ripe melon, with hints of honey, lemon, pine, and earth.

Gas Tree: is a very “gassy” cannabis strain, with pronounced notes of pine, petroleum, lemon, and earth. So Kush-like…

Gas Tree is a cross between Lemon Skunk (LT Cut) x Mai Thai x (Triangle Kush x Mendo Breath).

Gas Tree is perfect for all “Gas” enthusiasts, as it features distinct notes of diesel, petroleum, skunk, and delicious lemon candies!

Pineapple Tree: is a Sativa-dominant cannabis strain that highlights the intensity and freshness of pineapple thanks to the Star Killer strain, which delivers the highest-quality tropical terpene profile available!

Pineapple Tree is the result of a cross between Star Killer #1 and Golden Pineapple #12. Pineapple Tree is gorgeous, sweet, tangy, and juicy—just like the best pineapples!
It’s reminiscent of a tropical tart, with citrus notes as well. You’re sure to be surprised by its complex Haze notes, which blend with the earthy tones of Kush—a true delight for the senses! 

Blueberry Tree: is the resiniest Indica-dominant cannabis hybrid in their collection. Blueberry Tree is the result of a cross between Blueberry Muffin (SanG Cut) and Blueberry (LT Cut). Blueberry Tree will remind the most nostalgic among us of the greatness and supremacy of the Blueberry strain in the 1990s, thanks to its intense notes of cane sugar, sweet caramelized blueberries, butter, lavender, and pine.

The Encounter with Lemon Tree

I’ll always remember that beautiful, sunny morning in September 2019 in Santa Cruz, California. We had a meeting with our good friend Matthew Rockwell, aka “Rocky, ” who pulled up in his truck at the Lemon Tree factory. Once we’d introduced ourselves, we headed over to what I call the Lemon Tree factory—which is simply the production, storage, and retail facility for all of the brand’s merchandise, including Lemon Tree’s clothing and wide variety of accessories. It was really enjoyable—I have to admit that personally, I’ve got a soft spot for this brand, their designs, their “So Cali” authenticity, and their down-to-earth vibe!

During our visit, we had the chance to get a sneak peek at the terpenes designed for infusing their blunts and specialty rolling papers—simply amazing in terms of aroma, as they were very realistic and high-quality. It was during lunch—while enjoying a delicious burger at a local restaurant—that Rocky asked me point-blank if we, working with Dinafem at the time and putting things into context, would be able to develop a faithful and authentic feminized version of their Original Lemon Tree in the form of feminized seeds. I quickly replied that anything is possible if the work is done rigorously, methodically, and with the necessary time and care.  

The rest of the trip with Lemon Tree was filled with exceptional moments of togetherness. As we visited passionate, licensed cannabis growers, we shared delicious meals followed by pleasant after-dinner breaks during those evenings. A big thank you also goes to their friends at Victory Farms, who produce cannabis flowers of stellar quality. Unfortunately, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 and the tragic events involving Dinafem in September of that same year, this adventure was unable to follow its natural course.

Fortunately, five years later—and thanks to the new project from the feminized seed bank Silent Seeds, the faithful and rightful successor to Dinafem—the magic remains the same, and this exclusive collaboration with Lemon Tree can finally come to fruition. It is truly with great pleasure that I will one day return to Santa Cruz, with its magnificent white-sand beaches set against lush green hills, its dazzling sunshine, and its undeniable charm! Once again, a big thank you to the Lemon Tree team and their friends for these fabulous moments we shared together.

 

The Development of New Varieties Silent Seeds xLemon Tree

After a period of silence following Dinafem’s closure, we finally got back in touch with Lemon Tree in late 2021 to find out how our Californian friends were doing and to potentially explore the possibility of reviving the joint project we had worked on together in 2019. After a few warm conversations over the phone, we quickly realized that the synergy between us was still as strong as ever and that we would move forward with this new project.

I have to admit that this collaborative project was very close to my heart, because I personally have unforgettable memories of the moments I shared with “Rocky” and the Lemon Tree team at their home in Santa Cruz. They’re humble, very friendly, generous, good people with a modest ego—something that’s rare in the cannabis industry, and something many others could learn from!

After numerous discussions and exchanges, we agreed to create and develop various complementary strains, with quality, complementarity, and highlighting the unique terpene profile of Lemon Tree #1 at the heart of these new premium strains in the form of feminized cannabis seeds of the highest quality.

The launch of this collaboration between Lemon Tree and Silent Seeds took place officially at Spannabis 2024 in Barcelona, with the release of two new premium strains— Lemon Tree 2.0 and Lemon Tree Fast —and more new strains resulting from this collaboration are set to be released in the coming months.

Lemon Tree 2.0

Lemon Tree 2.0 cannabis seeds produce hemp plants with truly exceptional characteristics, intended for anyone looking for a more complex and well-rounded strain than Lemon Tree #1 (original).

Features of Lemon Tree 2.0

The feminized cannabis seed resulting from the collaboration between Lemon Tree and Silent Seeds, named " Lemon Tree 2.0," has specific characteristics that set it apart:

• • Genetics: This seed is the result of a cross between X-Dark Lime #20 and Original Lemon Tree #1, producing a balanced Indica-Sativa hybrid.

• • Indoor and Outdoor Flowering: The flowering period is relatively short, lasting 8 to 9 weeks indoors and continuing until early October outdoors.

• • THC Content: " Lemon Tree 2.0 " has a very high THC content, ranging from 25 to 27 percent, ensuring powerful yet balanced effects.

• • Indoor and outdoor yield: Indoor yield is high, ranging from 550 to 600 grams per square meter, and outdoor yield is just as abundant, with a yield of 1,200 to 1,400 g per plant.

• • Aromas: This strain stands out for its deep, complex citrus aromas, with delicious notes of lemon cream pie and a “gassy” Kush undertone.

 

 

Aromatic profile and effects of Lemon Tree 2.0

• • When you taste " Lemon Tree 2.0," you'll discover in its aromatic profile all the rich fruitiness of the finest lemons, blended with additional notes of lime, sweet artificial lemon candy, and complex floral notes. 

• • Lemon Tree 2.0 produces effects that will give you an a positive and harmonious experience, because after just a few puffs, you’ll feel your body and mind fill with a sense of euphoria and well-being—which are very pleasant for both body and mind. Afterward, you’ll experience a deeply pleasant sense of physical relaxation that invites you to rest.

    Lemon Tree 2.0 offers an exceptionally high-quality and innovative cannabis sensory experience that will fully satisfy all of your senses.

Lemon Tree Fast

Lemon Tree Fast cannabis seeds produce hemp plants with truly exceptional characteristics, intended for anyone looking for a strain that is true to the original Lemon Tree #1 but with a faster flowering time.

Features of Lemon Tree Fast

The feminized cannabis seed resulting from the collaboration between Lemon Tree and Silent Seeds, named " Lemon Tree Fast," has specific characteristics that set it apart:

• • Genetics: This strain is the result of a cross between Lemon Skunk Auto IX5 and Original Lemon Tree #1, producing a balanced Indica-Sativa hybrid.

• • Indoor and Outdoor Flowering: The flowering period is relatively short, ranging from 55 to 58 days indoors and lasting until the end of September outdoors.

• • THC Content: Lemon TreeFast has a high THC content, ranging from 22 to 24 percent, ensuring powerful and balanced effects.

• • Indoor and Outdoor Yield: The indoor yield is very high, close to 600 grams per square meter, and it is just as abundant outdoors, with an impressive yield of 1,200 g per plant.

• • Aromas: This strain stands out for its intense aromas of artificial lemon candy and Kush.

 

 

Aromatic profile and effects of Lemon Tree Fast

• • When you try " Lemon Tree Fast," you'll discover in its flavor profile all the richness of lemon caviar, blended with additional notes of artificial lemon candy and Kush.

• • Lemon Tree Fast produces effects that will make you feel your body and mind fill with a an incredible feeling of happiness, along with a wonderful sense of positive energy. Afterward, you’ll experience a most pleasant feeling of physical relaxation that invites you to rest.

    Lemon Tree Fast offers a harmonious, high-quality, and innovative cannabis sensory experience, where all your senses will be completely filled with joy.