Editor's note: This article has been reviewed and updated for accuracy in 2026. Are you rolling up some delicious Granddaddy Purple? There's something about purple weed that's special. If you're meeting with friends, and someone pulls out a tasty-looking nub, shimmering in hues of purple, pink, and orange, you know you're dealing with some dank. Traditionally, purple weed is synonymous with strength. Most strains are indicas, and they leave you locked into the couch, with a heavy narcotic effect that's ideal for promoting sleep and pain relief. Some recent breeding programs incorporated purple strains with other genetics, cutting the drowsy effect with sativas that lift you up. Regardless of genetics, most people start salivating when they lay eyes on a frosty-looking purple nug. What makes weed purple? What are the best purple strains? Let's look at everything you need to know about purple weed. Why Is Some Weed Purple? Many plants that turn purple do so because of their genetics. There are specific marijuana strains that turn purple, and you can't force just any old strain to grow purple weed. Purple marijuana plants display color in different ways, depending on their genetic history. Some cannabis turns entirely purple, even the leaves and stems, while other strains only see the buds, and some of the foliage turns purple.