Written by Brandon Topp

Vibrant purple nugs are way up there on a cannabis lover's list of favorite sights.

Historically, nugs with purple hues have been hailed as the tastiest, best-smelling, and highest-quality buds you can find. While those of us who have sampled many purple cannabis strains find this stereotype to ring true, fewer of us know why exactly that is.

Is it because of the plants or other compounds, or is there magic in the purple itself?

In this guide, we'll offer what we know about the elements that make weed purple while pointing out some of our favorite purple cannabis strains along the way.

For our highest concentration of purple strains, check out Mood's Top Shelf Flower today.

Table of Contents

• What Makes Weed Purple?

• Are Purple Cannabis Strains More Potent?

• The Lifespan Of Those Purple Hairs

• Purple Strains We Love

• FAQs on Purple Weed

• Check Out These Top-Shelf Strains

What Makes Weed Purple? A Closer Look at These Beloved Strains

Flavonoids are water-soluble pigments found in fruits, vegetables, and cannabis. Purple cannabis plants are known to be rich in flavonoids called anthocyanins.

Purple cannabis strains owe their coloring to these magical water-soluble pigments, which can also be held responsible for hues of red, blue, and orange that may appear in green and purple buds.

People have also pointed to cooler temperatures breaking down the green chlorophyll in green strains, leading to their evolution into purple strains.

UV light, pH levels, lighting, and various other environmental factors can also contribute to the purple pigment found in many cannabis strains.

Are Purple Cannabis Strains More Potent?

The consensus across the cannabis industry appears to be that purple weed is not automatically high quality. The genetics of the plants, production, and care all play major roles.

Variables from growing and caring for cannabis plants to the curing, aging, and storage of a particular purple cannabis bud all come into play when you're looking at potency. High anthocyanin content on its own doesn't promise you a great time.

Where did the stereotype of purple weed strains hitting harder come from?

While the coloration of plants or buds alone doesn't guarantee the potency of a given cannabis strain, purple weed strains happen to be dense with amazing genetics, flavors, and effects.

Purple strains can be raised in conditions that will limit their potential. On the flip side, when purple strains are developed by expert growers and maintained with the utmost care — like our Top-Shelf Flower is — then more often than not, you can expect an awesome outcome.

The Lifespan Of Those Purple Hairs

Flower colorations in cannabis develop from flowering to curing and ultimately to storage.

Cannabis plants can develop purple hues, and those colors can fade and change over time depending on a number of variables, including curing, storage, light, temperature, and more.

Keep your bud in a dark, cool place to help it last a bit longer.

Purple Strains We Love

• Granddaddy Purple

• Purple Kush

• Purple Haze

• Grape Ape

• Purple Urkle

• Gushers

• Gary Payton

Check out Mood's whole selection of THCa weed to discover other strains you'll love.

FAQs on Purple Weed

Q: Can any weed strain turn purple?

A: No. Despite environmental conditions like cold temperatures or more sunlight playing a role in the coloration of flower, purple strains are genetically predisposed to heightened anthocyanin production.

So, Granddaddy Purple and Purple Haze are cannabis strains that have the genetics for heightened anthocyanin production to develop the color purple in the flowering stage.

Cannabis plants without these genetics cannot develop purple hues unless they're crossed with specific strains known to develop purple hues regardless of environmental conditions.

Q: Is purple weed good or bad?

A: As we touched on above, purple shades do not guarantee a high-quality bud.

Well-known purple strains like Purple Kush and Purple Haze have a reputation for being great cannabis strains that are also purple.

Finding cannabis that's been properly maintained and cured for optimal quality is the way to go. Learn more about how Mood prioritizes quality and makes it easy for you to learn more with our third-party lab testing practices.

Q: What is the difference between normal weed and purple weed?

A: You could say the color. Truthfully, purple weed is normal weed.

Despite green being the dominant color in most weed strains, purple weed is common enough that it's far from abnormal.

Purple weed often comes from strains that also feature dynamic flavor and aroma profiles, dynamic effects, and passionate fanbases.

Q: How do you make buds turn purple?

A: You can't "make buds turn purple."

You can explore growing purple cannabis strains in the conditions that best suit them.

You can also explore cross-breeding your favorite green strains with your favorite purple ones if you're interested in the practice of growing cannabis and if it's legal where you live.

Q: What's the difference between dark purple strains and light purple strains?

A: Dark purple cannabis strains have higher and more concentrated levels of anthocyanin than light purple strains.

Varying environmental conditions like extreme temperatures and sunlight can also play a significant role in how purple or green these plants become.

Check Out These Top-Shelf Strains

Every one of Mood's strains comes from well-cared-for cannabis plants, with expert growers caring for them all along the way. Our caviar of cannabis — Top Shelf strains — feature more vibrant colors like purple, bright green, red, blue, and more.

These are some of our favorite purple weed strains you can find with Mood:

Gary Payton

One of our favorite purple strains, this Gary Payton cannabis is a 50/50 hybrid with a 23% share of THCa. It's a tasty cross of Y Griega and Snowman strains, a sign of strong genetic potential and a good time that just might last a little longer. The buds are still rich with green, orange, and other colors.

Grab an eighth of Gary Payton for $54 today.

Tropicana Cookies

Cannabis enthusiasts love this purple weed. Tropicana Cherry Cookies knocks it out of the park with fruity and earthy flavors, deeper hues of purple, and potent effects. Its distinctive color and visual appeal are only part of how this strain significantly impacts the user in the best way.

Get an eighth of Tropicana Cherry Cookies for $54 today.

Gushers

With plenty of green, this cannabis is also rich with purple and green throughout. Known for its visual appeal and easy, happy high — this Gushers strain comes from fantastic plants and expert growers, making its 4.5/5-star rating unsurprising. Order today to experience its distinct effects.

Get an eighth of Gushers THCa Flower for $54.

Learn more about cannabis at the Mood Blog today.