Apical Dominance

Apical dominance refers to the growth pattern in which a cannabis plant's central main stem grows taller and more vigorously than its lateral branches. This trait results from the concentration of auxin (a growth hormone) at the plant's apex, which suppresses lower branch development. Apical dominance is a natural characteristic found across many cannabis cultivars, though expression varies by genotype and environmental conditions. Plants exhibiting strong apical dominance typically develop a single dominant cola at the top, while those with weaker apical dominance branch more freely and develop more evenly distributed lateral growth.

Breeders select for or against apical dominance depending on cultivation goals—stronger apical dominance suits single-stem or vertical growing systems, while weaker expression favors bushy phenotypes suited to scrogging or multi-cola harvests. Understanding this trait allows breeders to predict plant architecture across different growing conditions and select parent material accordingly.