From Afghan and Hindu Kush came the genetic basis for color expression deep anthocyanins found in cultivars like Pakistan Chitral Kush and Purple Afghani. These early landraces gave rise to Mendocino Purps and Purple Kush, the California classics that brought visual allure and flavor to cannabis culture. Out of that foundation emerged Purple Urkle, Granddaddy Purple, Grape Ape, Cherry Pie, and eventually modern purple icons like Purple Punch, Slurricane, and Purple Runtz.

Over forty years of breeding have produced more than 1,200 purple-based hybrids—proof that one color never left the culture.

Base Genetics

Purple Urkle is a Northern California clone from the 2000s, often described as a phenotype or descendant of Mendocino Purps, though its exact origin remains debated. Granddaddy Purple (GDP), bred by Ken Estes in 2003, combines Purple Urkle with Salmon Creek Big Bud. Pakistan Chitral Kush and Purple Afghan contributed the foundational color genetics, while Hindu Kush and Afghan Indica lines provided resin density and sedative structure.

Early Purples (1970s–1990s)

The earliest “purples” emerged from Dutch and Afghan breeding during the 1970s and 1980s, including Purple #1 (Dutch Passion), Purple Afghani, and Pakistan Chitral Kush (ACE Seeds). Outdoor-adapted hybrids such as Purple Maroc, Frisian Dew, and Purple Power were selected for their cool-weather pigmentation and early finishing traits. Shaman (Purple #1 × Skunk) further stabilized these genetics for European climates.

West Coast Expansion (Late 1980s–1990s)

In California and Nevada, purple cultivars adapted indoors. Purple Kush (Hindu Kush × Purple Afghani) set the standard for indica-heavy potency. Las Vegas Purple Kush (LVPK) became a regional staple, while crosses like Purple Diesel, Purple Romulan, and Purple Hashplant spread through medical collectives. This period marked the transition from landrace color expression to intentional hybridization.

Mendo Purps and “The Purps” Family (1990s–2000s)

Mendocino Purps, often referred to simply as “The Purps,” emerged from Northern California’s Emerald Triangle. It spawned a wide lineage: Purple Trainwreck (Mendo Purps × Trainwreck), Grape Ape (Mendo Purps × Skunk × Afghani), and Mendo Breath (OGKB × Mendo Montage). These strains blended old-school color with modern potency, paving the way for grape-forward cultivars like Punch Breath, Blackwater OG, and Obama Kush.

Urkle, GDP, and Grape-Ape Lineage (2000s)

The Urkle–GDP family dominated California menus in the early 2000s. GDP (Urkle × Salmon Creek Big Bud) produced dense, grape-scented flowers that became synonymous with the purple era. Grape Ape, Cherry Pie (GDP × Durban Poison), and Purple Punch (Larry OG × GDP) further diversified the flavor range. Modern descendants such as Purple Runtz, Grape Pie, and Candyland (GDP × Platinum Cookies) carried the purple aesthetic into the dessert generation.

TGA / Subcool Purple Lines (2000s–2010s)

Subcool’s TGA Genetics expanded purple breeding with hybrids like Querkle (Purple Urkle × Space Queen), Deep Purple (Urkle × Querkle BX), and Cheese Quake (Cheese × Querkle). These strains emphasized resin production, vibrant color, and complex fruit profiles. Others such as Ace of Spades (Black Cherry Soda × Jack the Ripper) and Grape Lime Ricky showcased experimental terpene diversity within the purple gene pool.

Amsterdam and European Purples (2000s)

European breeders refined purple varieties through hybridization and outdoor adaptation. Lavender (Super Skunk × Big Skunk Korean × Afghani Hawaiian) became a continental favorite, while Cannabiogen’s Peyote Purple and its crosses (Peyote Cookies, Peyote Critical) added structural stability. Strains like Violeta (Malawi × PCK) and Dark Devil Auto (Sweet Seeds) continued the aesthetic lineage in autoflowering form.

The Purple Punch Era (2010s–Present)

Purple Punch (Larry OG × GDP) redefined purple cannabis for the 2010s, bringing back sweet grape terpenes and bag appeal. It fueled dozens of new hybrids: Slurricane (Do-Si-Dos × Punch), Banana Punch (Banana OG × Punch), and Lava Cake (Grape Pie × Thin Mint Cookies). New-school breeders integrated punch lines into Zkittlez, Gelato, and Animal Cookies hybrids, giving rise to strains like Purple Zkittlez, Garanimals, and Grape Gas.

The Purple Haze Group (Debated Lineage)

Purple Haze—often cited as Haze × Purple Thai—remains a debated entry in the purple family. Though modern “Purple Haze” seed versions differ from the original 1970s haze, they share the cultural association with psychedelic, lavender-hued flowers. Ancestors such as Purple Thai and American Purple contributed color and tropical aroma to early haze development.

Special and Side Branches

Notable sub-lines include SR71 Purple Kush (Oakland medical clone), Purple Chem (Original Purple × Chem 91), and Purple Elephant—a cut later linked to Grape Stomper and Grape Pie. Hybrids like Dark Star (Purple Kush × Mazar-i-Sharif), Purple Afghan Kush (Purple Kush × Pre-’98 Bubba), and Royal Purple Kush (Black Afghani × Bubba) reflect ongoing crossbreeding with classic indicas.

West Coast strains like God Bud, Grape God, and Purple Tangie expanded purple traits into tropical and citrus-forward terpene profiles.

Totals (Approximate)

Purple-based hybrids: 1,200+

GDP descendants: 400+
Mendo Purps / Urkle lines: 300+
Purple Kush / Afghani lines: 250+
Lavender / European purples: 150+

YOUTUBE VIDEO

— Nugg Notes

Sources: 

1. Weedmaps. “Granddaddy Purple.” Weedmaps, https://weedmaps.com/strains/granddaddy-purple. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025. 
2. Leafbuyer. “Purple Kush Weed Strain Information.” Leafbuyer, https://www.leafbuyer.com/strains/purple-kush-strain. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025. 
3. ACE Seeds. “Pakistan Chitral Kush Regular.” ACE Seeds, https://www.aceseeds.org/en/seeds/pakistan-chitral-kush-regular-seeds/. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025. 
4. Dutch Passion. “Buy Purple #1 Cannabis Seeds | Dutch Passion USA.” Dutch Passion, https://dutch-passion.us/cannabis-seeds/purple-1. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025. 
5. SeedFinder. “Purple Punch (Apothecary Genetics) :: Cannabis Strain Info.” SeedFinder, https://seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/purple-punch/apothecary-genetics. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.