The cannabis plant comes in possibly the most extensive variety of any medicinal plant sold today. With thousands of strains already available—and even more being bred for their specific genetic profiles—breeders can take the finest genetics of the best strains to create more potent, aromatic, and colorful strains. One of the hues that many breeders and consumers are after is those gorgeous purple shades.
But what makes weed purple? Can you do anything to influence how vibrant those colors are? Learn all about the whys and hows as we remove some of the mystery surrounding everyone’s favorite purple buds.
Why Is My Weed Purple?
If you’ve ever wondered why some weed is purple, and other strains aren’t, you’re not alone. You might be surprised to find out that the thing that makes your weed purple isn’t exclusive to the cannabis plant. It’s actually the presence of anthocyanins, a water-soluble pigment responsible for the colorful blue and purple shades you see in your bud. Anthocyanins are flavonoids, and like terpenes, flavonoids are found in many other places in nature—not just weed.
What Are Flavonoids?
Interestingly, when you hear or read the word “flavonoid,” you’re likely to think it has more to do with the flavor or taste of a plant than anything else. However, despite the name, flavonoids have little impact in that regard, as it’s the terpenes that affect the flavor and aroma profiles of cannabis.
Instead, flavonoids are water-soluble pigmentations that give plants their colors. The name itself comes from the Greek word “flavus” which means yellow. Other examples of flavonoids include quercetin, which is found in fruits and veggies, and catechins, which is found in cocoa and tea plants. Anthocyanins are responsible for the blue color of blueberries, the red shade of red grapes, and similar red, blue, and purple hues in other plant life, as well as cannabis.
Other Factors Influencing Plant Color
Of course, it’s not just the flavonoids that determine the final color of a cannabis plant, just like there are many other influences that impact the color, flavor, and juiciness of berries. The time of year (climate primarily), sun exposure, and genetics all play a part in the color of the final plant, and with cannabis plants, that includes the buds the plant produces.
As far as influencing factors go, deeper hues of blue and purple are often seen during the “winter” flowering cycle for cannabis plants with higher levels of anthocyanins. To trick plants into thinking it’s winter—even when grown indoors or out of season—many growers have been known to water their plants with ice water and keep their indoor room temperatures low to simulate a tropical winter climate.
So, while the myth that purple weed comes from cold weather is partially true, there are other myths you should ignore, like purple weed, meaning that the plants are stressed or that purple strains are fed water with food coloring.
Outside of genetics and temperatures, other factors that can influence the shade of cannabis and produce a more vibrant hue include pH balance and light exposure.
What Does Purple Weed Mean?
The two things that play the most significant role in whether or not a plant will produce purple buds are the strains’ specific genetics and the climate in which it’s grown. As mentioned above, anthocyanins are flavonoids found in many plants, but in cannabis plants, they’re highly sought after for how they affect the appearance of the buds produced. However, a plant must already have the ability to produce these anthocyanins in its genetic profile for the buds to turn various shades of purple. This is why some cannabis strains may be primarily purple, others may have hints of purple, and some may have none.
The second most important factor is the climate, and, generally speaking, the darker and more prevalent shades of blue, purple, or red are produced during the winter months during the plant’s flowering cycle. The reasons behind this include cooler weather and less intense or direct sunlight, which together increase the presence of anthocyanins, making a strain more likely to have deeper or darker shades of purple.
It’s important to note that some research suggests that plants high in anthocyanins could have health benefits of their own. This potentially increases—or at least adds to—the medicinal benefits of purple cannabis strains. Possible medical or health benefits of anthocyanins include:
- Anti-microbial properties
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Antioxidant properties
- Potential to protect the heart and liver
- Potential to improve vision/neurological health
- Potential to reduce risks of obesity/diabetes
These potential benefits are still being researched. Plus, the amount of cannabis you’d have to consume to gain any of these specific benefits of anthocyanins would be impractical. Still, it certainly adds to the plant’s potential for many therapeutic benefits.
5 Classic Purple Strains
Purple weed strains have been sought after by cannabis consumers for decades, and the boom of the legal industry has only increased that insatiable hunt. Each year, we have new strains coming on the scene, combining the best genetics of the strains produced in the years before.
Many of the modern purple strains that people flock to are bred from the following classics, which are known for their high quality, potency, effects, and unique flavors and appearance.
1. Granddaddy Purple
A world-famous indica strain, Granddaddy Purple—or Grandaddy Purps—is a classic loved by cannabis consumers everywhere. This purple baddie is an indica-leaning hybrid made up of Mendo Purps, Skunk, and Afghanistan strains. Best known for its deep purple buds coated with a thin layer of white crystal trichomes, it provides the perfect balance of mental euphoria and full-body relaxation. GDP is a highly sought-after medical strain, even among the wide variety available to consumers and patients.
2. Purple Haze
Purple Haze busts another myth surrounding purple weed, which is that purple strains will always be an indica. Categorized as a sativa, this strain is bred by crossing Purple Thai and Haze and offers the best of the sativa plant’s euphoric and energizing effects.
Recognizable by its bright lavender shades and sweet, earthy aromas, Purple Haze has continued to be a favorite since it hit the market, where it initially gained popularity for the simple reason of its being named after a 1967 Jimi Hendrix song.
3. Purple Urkle
This classic purple strain has been surrounded by mystery since it first appeared on the market in California. Its origins supposedly go back to its parent, Mendocino Purps. However, rather than crossing the strain with another, it was left as a phenotype of the strain grown for its purple hues, pleasant skunky and berry aroma, and heavy relaxation-inducing effects.
4. Forbidden Fruit
A modern classic, Forbidden Fruit is an indica-leaning strain bred from Cherry Pie and a sativa favorite: Tangie. Together, these strains produced a wide range of sought-after effects, including the potential to whisk away stress and boost mood, support appetite and get quality sleep. Its blend of tropical fruit aromas and flavors only boosts its bag appeal, boasting tall dense buds with deep purplish hues contrasted by bright orange pistils.
5. Sour Grape
A child strain of the classic Granddaddy Purple and the sativa-leaning hybrid Sour Diesel, Sour Grape is a heavy-hitting hybrid loved by many for its seemingly perfect balance of effects. It may leave you feeling uplifted, talkative, and energized while your stresses slip away. It usually produces looser, fluffier buds with hues of purple and orange and a noticeable fruity aroma.
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