The Runtz strain is a hybrid cross of Zkittlez and Gelato, credited to Cookies Fam and named Leafly Strain of the Year in 2020. It is known for a sweet, fruity aroma, dense buds in colours from purple to lime green, and caryophyllene as its leading terpene. Since its release, breeders have used Runtz as a parent for many new crosses. Below is a short profile of the original Runtz, followed by a list of 17 Runtz strains with their documented parents, type and terpenes.
All parent and terpene data in this list comes from public strain databases, mainly the Leafly strain database, checked on 8 October 2026. Where a database does not name the parents, the list says so.
What is the Runtz strain?
Runtz is a balanced hybrid with a candy-like aroma and dense, resin-covered buds. Leafly describes the flavour as very fruity and compares the smell to a bag of sugary candy. Growers quoted on the same page report resin-drenched buds that range in colour from rich purple to lime green.
The strain has several aliases. Leafly lists Runtz OG, Gelato Zkittlez and Rainshadow Runtz. In the Netherlands, the strain is also sold under the name Zwirlz. All of these names refer to the same Zkittlez x Gelato cross.
Runtz is also used as a brand name, and many variants in this list carry the name without a link to that brand. Here, "Runtz" means the strain and its genetic family.
What strains make Runtz?
Runtz is made from two parents: Zkittlez and Gelato. Both parents are well-documented strains with their own family trees.
- Zkittlez is an indica-leaning hybrid. Leafly lists its alleged parents as Grape Ape and Grapefruit, crossed with a third strain that was never disclosed. It is known for a fruit and grape aroma. The same line is a parent of Gorilla Zkittlez.
- Gelato is a hybrid from Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. It brings a creamy, sweet and peppery note. You can read more about this parent in our Gelato strain guide.
If you go back one more generation, Runtz connects to Sunset Sherbet, the parent of Gelato. This explains why caryophyllene, the leading terpene of Sunset Sherbet and Gelato, also leads in Runtz. Purple Caper Seeds released the same Zkittlez x Gelato cross under the name Gelato Zkittlez.
Where Runtz comes from
Leafly credits the Runtz cross to Cookies Fam and connects its rise to the Runtz crew around Yung LB in Long Beach, California. In 2020, Leafly named Runtz its Strain of the Year. The same Leafly entry lists Pink Runtz and Blue Nerds as offspring of the original.
No primary source documents the date of the first release.
The success of the name changed how new strains are named. Many sellers and breeders added "Runtz" to the names of new crosses. Some of these strains use Runtz as a parent. Others use the same parents as the original, Zkittlez and Gelato. A few use the name without any published lineage. The list below separates these cases.
Is Runtz indica or sativa?
The original Runtz is a hybrid. Leafly classifies it as a hybrid and gives no indica or sativa lean. The variants differ. Black Runtz, Blue Runtz and Grape Runtz are listed as indica-dominant hybrids. Tropical Runtz is listed as a sativa-dominant hybrid. Leafly lists Rainbow Runtz as indica, but its description calls it a hybrid.
The labels "indica" and "sativa" describe the shape of the plant and its lineage. Indica-leaning plants usually grow shorter, with broad leaves and dense flowers. Sativa-leaning plants usually grow taller, with narrow leaves. The labels do not describe how a strain feels, and the ratios in strain databases are estimates.
Terpenes and flavour of the Runtz family
The original Runtz is led by caryophyllene, followed by limonene and myrcene. Terpenes are aroma compounds in the trichomes of the plant. Caryophyllene smells of pepper, limonene of citrus peel, and myrcene has an herbal note. Leafly lists tree fruit, apricot and sweet as the top flavours of Runtz.
Across the family, limonene appears most often as the leading terpene. Pink Runtz, Purple Runtz, Black Runtz, Blue Runtz, Gelato Runtz, Cherry Runtz and Apple Runtz all list limonene first. This matches the citrus and candy notes in their flavour descriptions. Tropical Runtz is an exception, with myrcene in the lead.
How many types of Runtz strains are there?
There is no official number of Runtz strains, and new crosses appear every year. No breeder or registry keeps a complete catalogue. Strain databases add entries when growers and sellers report them, so any number is a snapshot.
For this list, we included only strains with a documented entry in a public strain database. This gives 17 variants in addition to the original. Most variants fall into one of three groups:
- Phenotypes or recreations of the original: strains with the same parents, Zkittlez and Gelato. A phenotype is a plant from the same cross that shows different traits, for example colour or aroma.
- Runtz crosses: strains that use Runtz as one parent, for example Cherry Runtz or Runtz Muffin.
- Name variants: strains that carry the name, but whose parents are not published.
Complete list of Runtz strains
These are the 17 Runtz variants with a documented database entry. Unless another source is named, the data comes from Leafly.
White Runtz
White Runtz has the same parents as the original, Gelato and Zkittlez. The name comes from the dense white trichomes that make the buds look as if they are covered in snow. Leafly lists caryophyllene, limonene and linalool as the main terpenes, with peach, vanilla and floral flavours. White Runtz is a parent of Blue Runtz.
Pink Runtz
Leafly describes Pink Runtz as a phenotype of Runtz. Growers report a very dense bud structure with dark green to purple colours. The leading terpene is limonene, followed by caryophyllene and linalool. The listed flavours are rose, floral and sweet.
Black Runtz
Black Runtz is an indica-dominant hybrid from Gelato and Zkittlez, bred by Big Boss Farms. Reviewers describe dark, dense buds with purple tones. The aroma is described as creamy and citrus, with a sweet berry flavour. Limonene is the only dominant terpene in the Leafly entry.
Purple Runtz
Purple Runtz is a cross of Zkittlez and Gelato #33, so its lineage is very close to the original. The original breeder is unknown. Leafly lists limonene as the dominant terpene and lavender, grape and earthy as the top flavours. The buds are known for dark purple colours.
Apple Runtz
Leafly lists Apple Runtz with the same parents as the original, Zkittlez and Gelato, and credits it to Cookies Fam. Some reviewers say it is a cross with Apple Fritter, but the database does not confirm this. The leading terpene is limonene, followed by myrcene and caryophyllene. The top flavours are apple, blueberry and cheese.
Bolo Runtz
Bolo Runtz is bred from the Gelato x Zkittlez pairing and is listed as a hybrid. Leafly does not name a breeder or a dominant terpene. The listed flavours are diesel, berry and lemon, and the description mentions tropical fruit and sugary citrus.
Blue Runtz
Blue Runtz is a cross of White Runtz and Blueberry. It is an indica-dominant hybrid, and the breeder is unknown. The dominant terpene is limonene. The flavours are blueberry, pear and vanilla, which reflects the Blueberry parent.
Gelato Runtz
Gelato Runtz crosses Runtz back to Gelato #33. The breeder is Elev8 Seeds. The leading terpene is limonene, followed by caryophyllene and linalool. Leafly lists berry, coffee and sweet as the top flavours, and the description also mentions vanilla.
Cherry Runtz
Cherry Runtz is a cross of Runtz and Cherry Pie, bred by Elev8 Seeds. Limonene leads the terpene profile, followed by caryophyllene and linalool. The top flavours are berry, floral and lavender, and the description also mentions rose.
Birthday Runtz
Birthday Runtz is a cross of Runtz and Ice Cream Cake, bred by Elev8 Seeds. It is listed as a hybrid with a ratio of about 50 % sativa and 50 % indica. The dominant terpene is caryophyllene. The flavours are pineapple, berry and vanilla, with a sweet cake profile in the description.
Tropical Runtz
Tropical Runtz is a cross of Runtz and Tropic Truffle. It is one of the few sativa-dominant hybrids in the family. The breeder is unknown. Myrcene leads the terpene profile, followed by limonene and linalool. The flavours are apricot, tropical fruit and citrus.
Green Runtz
Green Runtz is a cross of Green Crack and Runtz, according to AllBud. AllBud lists it as an indica-dominant hybrid with 60 % indica and 40 % sativa. The flavours include candy, citrus, lemon, sour and tropical, with citrus, earthy and floral aromas.
Runtz Muffin
Runtz Muffin is a cross of Runtz and Orange Punch. Leafly lists it as a hybrid but does not name a breeder or a dominant terpene. The listed flavours are unusual for the family: ammonia, butter and berry.
Grape Runtz
Grape Runtz is an indica-dominant hybrid. The Leafly genetics section lists Zkittlez and Grape Ape as parents, while the description also names Gelato and OG Kush. The breeder is unknown. Caryophyllene leads, followed by myrcene and limonene. The flavours are grape, pepper and woody notes.
Rainbow Runtz
Rainbow Runtz has two documented versions. According to Leafly, the first version was a double cross of Zkittlez and DoSiDos. The 2024 version is a cross of Runtz and RS11 by Wizard Trees. Leafly lists pear, rose and floral flavours and describes a candy front with a fuel note at the end.
Obama Runtz
Obama Runtz became known through its name. Leafly does not list its parents and states that it is probably a Runtz variety or a Gelato. Earlier claims about Afghani or OG Kush in its lineage are not confirmed by a database. The listed flavours are tea, berry and diesel.
Alien Runtz
A strain guide by JointCommerce attributes Alien Runtz to Nasha Genetics, but no strain database publishes its parents. Reports describe a sweet, fruity aroma with mango and pineapple notes over an earthy base. More details are in our Alien Runtz strain guide.
Comparison table: parents, type and terpenes
The table shows all 18 entries at a glance, including the original Runtz. "Not published" means that the database entry does not name this information.
| Strain | Parents | Type | Breeder | Leading terpene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runtz (original) | Zkittlez x Gelato | Hybrid | Cookies Fam | Caryophyllene |
| White Runtz | Gelato x Zkittlez | Hybrid | Not published | Caryophyllene |
| Pink Runtz | Runtz phenotype | Hybrid | Not published | Limonene |
| Black Runtz | Gelato x Zkittlez | Indica-dominant hybrid | Big Boss Farms | Limonene |
| Purple Runtz | Zkittlez x Gelato #33 | Hybrid | Unknown | Limonene |
| Apple Runtz | Zkittlez x Gelato | Hybrid | Cookies Fam | Limonene |
| Bolo Runtz | Gelato x Zkittlez | Hybrid | Not published | Not published |
| Blue Runtz | White Runtz x Blueberry | Indica-dominant hybrid | Unknown | Limonene |
| Gelato Runtz | Runtz x Gelato #33 | Hybrid | Elev8 Seeds | Limonene |
| Cherry Runtz | Runtz x Cherry Pie | Hybrid | Elev8 Seeds | Limonene |
| Birthday Runtz | Runtz x Ice Cream Cake | Hybrid | Elev8 Seeds | Caryophyllene |
| Tropical Runtz | Runtz x Tropic Truffle | Sativa-dominant hybrid | Unknown | Myrcene |
| Green Runtz | Green Crack x Runtz | Indica-dominant hybrid | Not published | Not published |
| Runtz Muffin | Runtz x Orange Punch | Hybrid | Not published | Not published |
| Grape Runtz | Zkittlez x Grape Ape | Indica-dominant hybrid | Unknown | Caryophyllene |
| Rainbow Runtz | Zkittlez x DoSiDos; 2024: Runtz x RS11 | Indica | 2024 version: Wizard Trees | Not published |
| Obama Runtz | Not published | Hybrid | Not published | Not published |
| Alien Runtz | Not published | Hybrid | Nasha Genetics | Not published |
