These terms get used interchangeably in marketing, but they mean different things to breeders.

Landrace vs heirloom
Landrace
  • Wild or semi-wild populations from a specific region
  • Adapted by climate, not by a breeder
  • Examples: Hindu Kush, Acapulco Gold, Durban Poison
  • Genetic diversity is high — they're populations, not lines
Heirloom
  • A stabilized line that's been passed down for generations
  • Originally selected by a breeder or community
  • Examples: Skunk #1, Northern Lights #5, original Haze
  • Less genetic diversity — they breed truer than landraces

Why preserve them?

Landraces carry traits modern hybrids have lost — natural pest resistance, drought tolerance, unique terpene profiles, mold resistance from millennia of selection by climate. Once a region's landrace is gone, it's gone. CannaForge's preservation program flags these explicitly so collectors can support the breeders doing the work.