Purple Weed: What Actually Makes Cannabis Turn Purple?

Purple weed gets its color from anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments in the flavonoid family, not from terpenes like a lot of people assume. Only strains with the right genetics can turn purple, and cool nights late in flowering are what usually bring the color out. Plenty of cannabis fans love the look, so here's what's really going on.

What is purple weed?

“Purple buds” is a catch-all term for a growing family of strains that share the color and, often, a distinctive flavor, aroma or effect.

Thanks to their genetics, purple strains tend to be indica-leaning (unless they've been crossed with something else). So what sets purple weed apart?

• It's known for an intense high that, people say, helps with chronic pain without completely fogging your head. Despite that reputation, classic purple strains have never been THC monsters, averaging around 15-16%.

• Beyond the eye candy, purple buds are known for their flavor. Purple strains often taste, well, purple: think sweet grape candy, sometimes with floral notes on top.

There are plenty of theories floating around about why purple cannabis exists or where it came from, and not all of them hold up. What actually turns the plant purple is anthocyanins, a group of flavonoids present in certain genetics. Below we break down what they are and how they turn a cannabis plant violet.

Purple buds: what are anthocyanins?

The big question of why a weed plant turns purple comes down to anthocyanins, which belong to the flavonoid family. You'll find them in fruits, vegetables, grains, teas and nuts, and in cannabis they sit alongside the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes.

Flavonoids are being studied for a range of potential health benefits. Research suggests they may:

• Support heart and liver health.
• Support vision and brain health.
• Help lower the risk of obesity and diabetes.
• Act as antioxidants
• Have antimicrobial properties
• Have anti-inflammatory properties

Anthocyanins are what give purple strains their color. They're water-soluble pigments found in loads of plants, and they're the same compounds that make blueberries blue, red grapes red and blackberries black. They come in a range of shades, including gold, red, dark green, violet, deep blue and black. Temperature, light, pH and the molecule's structure all play a part in deciding the exact color and how stable the pigment is.

There is a way to get anthocyanins to take over. Keep these tips in mind:

• Exposing cannabis plants to cold temperatures can make the leaves change color and let the anthocyanins dominate. Heads up, though: this only works on strains bred to go purple. Timing matters, so do it gradually and right before harvest.
• A nighttime temperature of 10 °C (50 °F) is ideal, but drop it gradually so you don't shock the plants. Too much time in the cold can cut your yield.
• Extreme cold can damage or even kill your plants. Purple strains grown outdoors in cooler climates can turn purple on their own, no grower intervention needed.
• pH also affects anthocyanin color. Acidic, low-pH conditions can push plants toward red, neutral pH usually gives purple, and high pH tends to shift the color toward blue.

Can any cannabis plant grow purple buds?

A strain has to be predisposed to turning purple, and that comes down to its genetics. Some strains simply pack more anthocyanins than others. During a “wintry” flowering cycle, that genetic predisposition, combined with the plant's chemistry and its growing environment, is what brings out the purple pigment.

Purple cannabis strains to grow

Cannabis strains fall into two big groups: photoperiod strains, which need a specific number of light hours to start flowering, and autoflowers, which don't care about light hours and flower automatically with age. To grow purple weed, you need a strain rich in anthocyanins. Here are some purple strains from both camps.

Purple feminized photoperiod strains

• Mimosa x Orange Punch: these purple plants can crank out big yields of cannabinoid-rich flower. The aroma is a refreshing, delicious mix of orange juice, sparkling wine and a splash of cranberry juice, and the buds show off stunning purple and gold hues.
• Mendocino Purple Kush: a rare, potent indica-dominant strain bred from Mendocino Purps and OG Kush. It smells sweet and earthy with hints of grape and berry, and its dense buds come coated in a ridiculous layer of trichomes. This one can turn into a gorgeous purple bud with a calming, relaxing body high.
• Persian Pie: an indica-dominant hybrid purple strain with a sweet, earthy aroma and a flavor that mixes sweet and sour. Its effects are calming and relaxing, and people often reach for it to unwind and take the edge off pain.

Purple feminized autoflowers

• Auto Purple Diesel: a hybrid born from crossing Purple Diesel with a ruderalis strain. It gives off a sweet, earthy aroma with a diesel kick, and its dense, dark-green buds show purple streaks under a thick coat of trichomes. The effects are uplifting and energizing.
• Dark Devil Auto: created by crossing Critical Mass with Auto Blackberry Kush. It's a fast-flowering, indica-dominant strain with big, dense, resinous buds and a sweet, fruity aroma. The effects are relaxing and calming, and it's a popular pick for winding down after a stressful day.
• Auto Forbidden Cherry: a purple hybrid that comes from crossing Forbidden Fruit with Cherry Pie. It has a sweet, fruity aroma with notes of cherry and spice, and its dense purple buds are covered in a thick layer of trichomes. The effects are uplifting and euphoric, with a strong body high.

Purple weed effects: does it hit any different?

Color aside, purple weed works the same as any other cannabis. You can smoke it, vape it, eat it or make drinks with it. This kind of cannabis is known for its relaxing effects and sweet flavor, which makes it a favorite for recreational use.

Some people say purple weed helps them sink into deep relaxation and an overall sense of well-being, and some users report that it helps them reach a deeper state of awareness.

 

 

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