Purple cannabis certainly looks good in photographs, and for some people its vivid colour is a sign of high quality. However, it must be admitted that not everything said about purple weed is true. We will set some myths about purple cannabis straight and introduce you to the best purple varieties with which you can enrich your seed collection.
As with other plants, the purple colouring of cannabis flowers and leaves is caused by anthocyanins, plant pigments that can appear in various colours ranging from pink through red and purple to blue. The specific colouring depends on a combination of the plant’s genetic predispositions and environmental conditions, such as temperature and the amount of light.
Genetic studies have revealed that in the species Cannabis sativa, the main anthocyanin present in both leaves and flowers is cyanidin-3-rutinoside (keracyanin). It is noteworthy that in one of the studies, concentrations were found to be so high that the authors proposed using cannabis biomass as a potential source of natural antioxidants and colourants, similarly to berry fruit. Anthocyanins are generally known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, it has not been proven that consuming purple cannabis itself brings any health benefits compared with green varieties.
How to grow purple varieties
The main factor influencing the purple colouring of plants is genetics. It was found that when different varieties were grown under the same conditions, significant differences were recorded in the amount of anthocyanins in the leaves and flowers. The first step towards a purple variety is therefore choosing the right cultivar. But more on that later.
Environment also plays a significant role in plant colouring. The strongest trigger for anthocyanin production is probably low temperatures. In one of the studies, plants reached the highest anthocyanin concentrations at temperatures of 8 to 15 °C, whereas at temperatures above 22 °C they were lower. Anthocyanin production in plants is also supported by plenty of light. By contrast, plants in shade produce less of it.
A common myth among growers is that the longer you let a plant overripen, the more purple it will become. That is not true. Yellowing and browning of leaves and flowers in overripe plants is caused by the breakdown of chlorophyll and the predominance of carotenoids. With overripening, the concentration of anthocyanins often decreases over time and the purple shades fade away.
You may be interested in: Terpene guide to varieties
The most sought-after purple varieties
Purple Haze
Purple Haze is certainly the variety that stood at the birth of the obsession with purple cannabis. In the 1960s, this now long-lost variety became synonymous with top-quality cannabis sought after by connoisseurs. Anyone looking for this classic in a modern form must look for pure sativas with Thai roots, such as Purple Thai from Anesia Seeds.
Purple Kush
The roots of the original Purple Kush variety can be found in Oakland, the Californian capital of cannabis. It is believed to have been a cross between Hindu Kush and Afghan Purple, that is, two pure indicas. In addition to its striking purple colour, Purple Kush is valued for its sweet aroma with earthy undertones. Excellent modern representatives of this classic are the cultivars Sensi Purple Kush from Sensi Seeds and Purple Kush from Kannabia Seed Company. Excellent autoflowering versions of Purple Kush are Purple Bud Automatic from Sensi Seeds, Banana Purple Auto from Paradise Seeds and Purple Domina Auto from Anesia Seeds. A successful dessert version of Purple Kush is Purple Mints from Paradise Seeds.
Purple Punch
Purple Punch from Barney's Farm is one of the most reliable purple varieties on the current scene. The cultivar was created by crossing the classic purple Granddaddy Purple with Larry OG, and in addition to its beautiful colour it impresses with its yields and trichome production. The autoflowering version from the same seed bank, Purple Punch Auto, is in no way inferior in quality to its photoperiod sister, and it is ready in just 65 to 70 days from germination. Also worth mentioning is the autoflower Banana Purple Punch Auto from Fast Buds. We must not forget the luxurious Purple Sunset RBX2 from Ethos. The genetics of Purple Punch can also be found in the varieties Purple Shot from Exotic Seeds and Purple Punch F1 Fast from Seedsman. The sweet finishing touch in our selection is Tropicana Cookies Purple from Royal Queen Seeds.
Purple Skunk Automatic
Purple Skunk Automatic from Sensi Seeds is the autoflowering version of the legendary skunk, which often flowers in beautiful purple colours. The variety was created by crossing Shiva Skunk with Skunk #1 and Hindu Kush Auto, and its life cycle lasts just 8 to 9 weeks. The plants are compact, with a typical skunk aroma complemented by notes of sandalwood.
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Sources:
Bassolino, L., Fulvio, F., Pastore, C., Pasini, F., Toschi, G. T., Filippetti, I., & Paris, R. (2023). When Cannabis sativa L. Turns Purple: Biosynthesis and Accumulation of Anthocyanins. Antioxidants, 12. DOI:10.3390/antiox12071393
Gagalova, K. K., Yan, Y., Wang, S., Matzat, T., Castellarin, S., Birol, I., Edwards, D., & Schuetz, M. (2024). Leaf pigmentation in Cannabis sativa : Characterization of anthocyanin biosynthesis in colourful Cannabis varieties. Plant Direct, 8. DOI: 10.1002/pld3.70016
Kim, S. R., Basnet, P., Kovaleski, A. P., & Ellison, S. (2025). Anthocyanin accumulation, inflorescence dry weight and total cannabidiol content have different temperature optima in Cannabis sativa. Journal of Cannabis Research, 7. DOI:10.1186/s42238-025-00311-w