Six Of the Best Purple Weed Strains
Marijuana, like most plants, is generally green in color. Usually, the buds or flowers may take on different colorations depending on the strain. But have you seen a purple marijuana strain?
Some marijuana plants have a purple appearance or purple patches on leaves and buds. What makes weed purple? How do you grow pure purple strains? Is purple weed exotic? Read on as we provide detailed responses to these and many more questions.
This article focuses on the best purple weed strains you will find at any reliable dispensary.
What makes weed purple?
Before we unveil the list of purple weed strains, let’s first understand why some are pure purple while others have only purple patches. And most importantly, we will answer why there are purple weed strains in the first place.
Purple weeds were not as common in the past the way they are today. But due to their attractiveness and preferences by consumers and growers, they have risen in popularity. Nowadays, all dispensaries stock purple-colored weeds.
What makes weed plants turn purple is the high concentration of anthocyanin. This is a flavonoid with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This chemical is present not only in purple weeds but also in some plants. You can find it in the leaves, stems, fruits, and basically every plant part.
Anthocyanin in weeds is responsible for the beautiful reds, purples, pinks, and blues that you naturally see when walking through the jungle.
Are purple weed strains Indica or Sativa? As mentioned, what makes weed purple is the flavonoid: anthocyanin. Its presence is independent of whether the weed strain is Sativa or Indica. That is why you can even find purple hybrid strains. Both Sativa and Indica cannabis strains can appear purple if anthocyanin is enough to turn the color.
Eating food rich in anthocyanins comes with benefits. However, it is a different story when it comes to cannabis. The heat when burning or processing cannabis-related products can destroy them.
Is purple weed better?
Technically speaking, anthocyanin has no contribution to the potency of marijuana. A connection between these two has never been established.
It is just a well-known belief among cannabis users that purple marijuana strains have higher quality than green ones. The perception comes from its beauty, due to the purple colors of the bud. You are mistaken if you think you will get a different effect because you smoke a purple strain.
However, most purple weed strains are circumstantially potent. That makes people believe that all weeds with purple pigmentation are better than a green cannabis strain.
Does purple weed make you sleepy? Yes. It will if it is an Indica or Indica-dominant hybrid, but that is a typical effect of such strains regardless of its appearance.
There are way more than these six strains, but these, according to most weed sites, are the most popular as of the beginning of 2023.
Purple Kush is a pure Indica strain with good adaptation to indoor and outdoor environments. It is a popular purple weed strain choice for growers because of its ease of cultivation and also takes the shortest time to flower.
Purple Kush has a frosty purple appearance that guarantees a top spot as one of the best purple weed strains. It is also a highly potent weed strain with a THC level of about 22%. If you are a novice smoker, you better leave it to veterans or proceed cautiously.
Once Purple Kush gets into your system, it produces a relaxing effect that makes you calm and peaceful. Its numbing effect also makes it a perfect choice for alleviating chronic pain. And, if you struggle with insomnia, the right dose of Purple Kush will lull you into sleep.
THC: 20-23%
CBD: 0.3-0.5%
2: Grand Daddy Purple
Also known as Grand Daddy Purp, Granddaddy Purp, or GDP, this is the most popular purple weed strain worldwide. It is a cross of Purple Urkle and Big Bud. Its buds are strikingly purple and decorated by fiery orange hairs.
GDP looks attractive and enticing. The buds have a super sweet grape flavor, but it has a heavily pungent harsh aftertaste to warn you of its potency. The aroma is equally delicious and spicy.
Granddaddy Purple is another very potent purple marijuana with a THC level ranging from 20% to 27%. Its effects begin with a cerebral rush that graduates to a feeling of euphoria and slight numbing. As a result, many users prefer it for pain and stress relief.
THC: 17-20%
CBD: varies depending on plant type
3: Grape Ape
Grape Ape is a result of crossing Mendocino Purps, Skunk, and Original Afghani. It is distinguished from other purple Indica weed strains on this list for its appearance. These purple marijuana strains are shrouded in deep purple leaves, which become darker as they mature.
Grape Ape gives off a potent fruity aroma of candy and berries. It is also one of the best-tasting weed strains that can lure even novice smokers, but be warned. Grape Ape is an equally potent flower with a THC level of about 18-21%. Its relaxing high is preferred for alleviating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more!
However, high doses can easily result in couch-lock. Novices are also warned to stay away from this purple Indica marijuana strain.
THC: 17-25%
CBD: 0.34-0.68%
4: Purple Haze
Purple Haze is a heavily Sativa-dominant marijuana strain popularized by Jimi Hendrix’s 1967 hit song: Purple Haze. It is a cross between Purple Thai and Haze, inheriting a mix of sweet and earthy flavors. There are also notes of berry and sharp spice.
Purple Haze weed strains appear on this list of the best Sativa purple marijuana strains because of their nuggets covered by deep purple hairs. Other features include long, dense pepper-shaped nugs and milky white trichomes.
This purple marijuana strain has typical Sativa effects. Because of its high THC level of about 26%, Purple Haze hits fast and hard. The high begins with strong cerebral simulations followed by an intense sense of creativity and blissful contentment.
THC: 22-26%
CBD: varies depending on plant type
5: Purple Haze x Malawi
As its name suggests, this purple Sativa strain is a cross between Purple Haze and Malawi. The result is a highly potent Sativa purple marijuana strain with a THC level of about 18-23%.
Purple Haze x Malawi is one of the most successful purple weed strains with high yields and ease of growing. Even the novice can get it right!
This purple strain offers powerful and long-lasting, energizing effects. It is the best choice if you are looking for motivation to go about your daily routine.
THC: 18-23%
CBD: 0.2-0.5%
6: Purple Skunk
Sativa lovers can extend their joy for purple strains with Purple Skunk. Though the origin and lineage are not well known, this marijuana strain remains the most potent and popular purple Sativa marijuana strain. In appearance, Purple Skunk has deep purple hues.
As the name suggests, Purple Skunk has a skunky taste and offers an incredible long-lasting and uplifting high. You can expect creative cerebral effects accompanied by strong euphoria and a tingling sensation. Some smokers have also reported a powerful hunger as the initial effects subside.
THC: 19-22%
CBD: 0%
Growing Purple Weed
Purple coloration in weeds can be hereditary. However, the concentration is mainly influenced by the growing conditions. That means a horticulturalist relies on the skills of how to make weed purple. Fortunately, you don’t have to be overly experienced to know what makes weed purple and actually cultivate one.
Purple strains of weeds are mainly grown indoors. That is the case because it is easier to control growth conditions in favor of anthocyanin formation.
High amounts of anthocyanins are formed when the weed is exposed to long periods of cold temperatures. Most horticulturalists accomplish that by using LED lighting and piling dry ice around the root zones.
To favor anthocyanin formation in purple strains, keep temperatures at about 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit during warm days and at about 65-70 at night. And since purple coloration is genetic, consider purple marijuana strains. You will never achieve any coloration with a weed strain with no known history of having purple patches.
Why do cannabis stems turn purple?
Some marijuana strains only have purple stems. The stems turn purple mainly due to light intensity. If you expose your weed to direct sunlight, you may notice purple pigmentation. If the light source is placed above, stem sections closer to the ground remain greener than those high up.
So, what do purple stems mean on weed plants? It means there is a high concentration of anthocyanin, and that is due to exposure to intense light for a long time.
