When you shop for cannabis, you expect to come across deep green cannabis strains, just as you’ve seen on TV and in the movies. So, when a budtender pulls out of a grape-like purple weed strain, it may be a bit confusing.
What makes purple weed purple? Is it safe? Does it mean it’s better than other, greener strains?
If you have questions about these plum and violet cannabis flowers, we have answers. Let’s take a deep dive into what this color means for your favorite marijuana buds.
What is Purple Weed?
Purple cannabis is simply a cannabis plant with a purple coloration or shades of purple hue. The coloration is often a result of the effects of water-soluble compounds called anthocyanins.
Typically, you can associate these wine-colored flowers with indicas. Indica buds tend to grow with this type of coloration, indicating a potentially sleepy, relaxing profile.
Today, the cannabis community has a variety of exotic purple weed strains that you can find in your local dispensary.
And if you don’t know what to ask for, you can always inquire about the deepest purple buds a shop has.
What Are Some Popular Purple Weed Strains?
Every purple weed strain is going to look different. While some buds demonstrate extremely deep violet colors, others will only have slight hues of mauve or plum.
Just because one strain is more purple than the other doesn’t mean that strain is any better! It’s simply just its genetics.
If you’re looking for some well-known grape-like strains, we’ve got you covered. Here are a handful of high-quality dark purple weed strains that you’ll love for more than just their color.
Grandaddy Purple (GDP)
A blend of Purple Urkle and Big Bud, Granddaddy Purple is one of the most distinctive, sought-after purple strains in the cannabis industry. This indica-dominant purple marijuana strain was introduced to California in the early 2000s by Ken Estes, and its appeal has not dropped since then.
Its aroma is a pleasing note of grapes and berries. Users turn to GDP to combat pain, stress, loss of appetite, and insomnia.
After use, they report feelings of euphoria, sedation, relaxation, and increased appetite.
Purple Haze
Purple Haze is of the very few pure purple sativa strains in the world and is generally just about the most sought-after strain globally.
This purple marijuana strain is so good Jimi Hendrix popularized it in his 1967 hit song titled Purple Haze.
Its flavor is a mix of earthy and sweet, and its aroma will have you thinking of berries and spices. Purple Haze is a favorite because of the creativity and energy it inspires in users.
Obama Kush
A weed strain can’t be named after the Barack Obama and fail to deliver, so trust us when we say the qualities of this purple marijuana are not just in the name.
It may not be as purplish as those listed above, but it has slight purple colorations and has gained weight around the purple marijuana community for its potency.
This indica-dominant strain is a cross between Afghani and OG Kush, and it is renowned for its intense euphoric rush.
Sour Grape
If the name didn’t give it away yet, this purple strain is legendary for its fruity aroma.
Sour Grape is an indica-dominant blend of Sour Diesel and GDP with some bits of sourness to boot. We’d describe this strain as potent, pure, and oh-so-purple.
If you want something that makes you feel energetic and calm simultaneously, reach for this one. Its relaxing effects make it perfect for stress relief, and consumers have also reported that it helps with relieving muscle tension.
Myths and Facts About Purple Weed Flower
A lot of information floats around, spreading various narratives on how the purple marijuana flower came into existence.
Most of these narratives hinge on what makes weed purple and what growers may be doing on their farms to create these marijuana strains.
First, let’s look at some of the myths about how purple cannabis strains are derived.
Myth #1: Excessive nitrogen application
Undoubtedly, nitrogen is essential for the growth of marijuana. It is, in fact, one of the primary macronutrients that cannabis plants need at various stages of their lives.
Being a macronutrient means that cannabis plants need an abundance of nitrogen to survive — Nitrogen influences plant development, productivity, and yield.
However, while requiring a lot, too much nitrogen is a thing. Advanced research on the effects of nitrogen on medical cannabis showed that beyond optimum usage, a nitrogen overload could adversely affect your plant. And, instead of purps, you will be getting browns (no pun intended).
Myth #2: Watering regimens
Some believe that watering a cannabis plant using a specific schedule or not watering them at all within a given period would make the plant turn purple.
This myth fails to consider that cannabis plants also grow in the wild under varying conditions with varying water availability.
And that while cannabis plants adapt to the fluctuating amounts of water it receives, none of the adaptations makes them yield purple weed flower.
Myth #3: Depriving the plant of oxygen or carbon dioxide
As an extension of water scheduling, you may have come across suggestions that overwatering your cannabis plant can inhibit the root’s oxygen absorption and make the leaves turn purple. Or,
if you control your cannabis plant’s CO2 intake to be below the optimum requirement, you will be harvesting purple cannabis in no time.
While some growers may have used these deprivation techniques to force weed to have purple coloration, there are just as many growers that have tried and never got that result.
The most important thing to remember is that O2 and CO2 are vital elements cannabis plants need to survive. Depriving your plants of one or both will adversely affect your plant’s metabolism, and that’ll leave you with a sickly plant and low harvest.
You may be getting shades of the desired coloration, but definitely not the potency or bountiful harvests your plant would have given you. So, what do you want: healthy flowers or unhealthy purps?
Myth #4: Light cycle and high intensity get you purple flower weed
Light intensity may determine how fast a cannabis plant grows during the vegetative phase, as well as how fast it flowers. In the pursuit of purpleness, stories are going around that with prolonged lighting and higher lighting intensity, one could get purple weed flowers.
What these myth fails to account for is that:
1. You can only get the purple hue if the coloration is part of the genetic composition of the parent plant
2. You don’t need to use very high light intensity. As a matter of fact, using high light intensity is more likely to get you yellow leaves, which, at best, is a sign of an unhealthy plant.
If you want to get the best out of your cannabis plants, it would be best if you don’t subject them to any harsh conditions, as is often suggested by these myths.
3 Facts About Purple Weed Flower
Now that you know some of the most prominent myths about purple buds, let’s talk about the facts. What makes weed purple? What does purple cannabis do?
Fact #1: Anthocyanins make weed purple
Are you wondering what makes weed purple? Anthocyanin is your answer.
Anthocyanins are phytochemicals in the flavonoid groups responsible for red, purple, or blue pigments and hues found in many plants. Blueberries are blue because of anthocyanins, and these natural chemicals are also responsible for giving purple cannabis its vibrant color.
According to Marijuana Botany, the strain must have the genetic potential to produce anthocyanin pigments for weed to develop purple coloration. That is, with all other environmental conditions being equal and favorable to the process.
Fact #2: Purple weed flower is not a cannabis superpower
What does purple weed do? Is there anything special about it?
People often seek out purple weed strains with hopes of having some all-new experience but don’t judge the weed by the color of its leaves.
There is no scientific indication that shows being royally colored makes purple weed strains different from the others. The color may make it appear attractive, but that’s all there is to it.
Beyond the colorations, the potency of a weed strain is firmly reliant on its genetic make-up. Next time you have Purple Haze weed and you feel super relaxed, know it has nothing to do with its hue and all about its cannabinoids, terpenes, and more.
Fact #3: Genetics and temperature play a significant role in purple weeds’ hue
If you are keen on how to grow purple marijuana, then you have to forgo all the myths and focus on two factors:
- Genes – It’s all in the seeds. If you want to get purple weed, then you have to cultivate the right seeds with the genetic potential to produce anthocyanins. Nurture indeed plays a significant role in expressing the innate characteristics of marijuana plants, but nature supplies the blueprint, or shall we say, purpleprint? You plant purple; you get purple. It’s that simple.
- Temperature – with the right seeds, the next thing you need is the right temperature to induce the purple hue. Expert growers suggest mimicking cool weather during the flowering phase, just as is experienced during fall. Like most other plants, the leaves of cannabis plants with anthocyanin change color during fall.
With these two in place, you will be well on your way to growing your purple marijuana.
Understanding Purple Weed Flowers With Elevate Holistics
With your medical marijuana card, you can get purple cannabis buds from any applicable state-authorized dispensary. But, how do you get your medical marijuana card in the first place? That’s where we come in.
Elevate Holistics can help you get your MMJ card in three quick, easy steps – and you do it all from the comfort of your home. That’s right: Elevate’s telemedicine services allow you to meet with a board-certified physician over the phone or computer.
From there, you two can discuss your qualifying medical conditions and see if MMJ is right for you.
Simply start by finding your state and booking an appointment. Then, we’ll handle it from there. Before you know it, you’ll be picking out your new favorite — purple — cannabis strain.
Additional Patient Resources
- Stay up to date on the marijuana laws in your area by clicking here.
- Have some questions about MMJ in your state? Click here to have all your MMJ FAQs answered.
- Check out our blog to stay informed about all things cannabis.
- What kind of medical conditions can get you a medical marijuana card? Click here to find out.
- What’s the Deal With Orange Weed?
