Mendocino Purps
Also known as: Mendo Purps, The Purps, Purps, Purple Mendocino
Breeder: Unknown (clone-only from Mendocino County, CA; BC Bud Depot stabilized IBL seed line in 2006)
A legendary clone-only cultivar from Mendocino County that defined the modern purple cannabis category. Emerged in the late 1990s from Northern California's Emerald Triangle growing community and circulated among local cultivators before BC Bud Depot stabilized it into seed form. Won High Times Strain of the Year recognition in 2007 and multiple Cannabis Cup placements. Prized for its striking natural purple coloration, grape-berry bouquet, and caramel-coffee flavor profile. Considered a foundational genetic in purple cannabis breeding. Mendocino Purps is one of the foundational genetics in modern purple cannabis varieties, serving as an ancestor or close relative to strains like Purple Urkle and Grape Ape. The strain emerged from the Emerald Triangle growing tradition and circulated for years as a closely guarded clone-only cut before BC Bud Depot developed stable seed lines. Its indica-dominant genetics (roughly 60/40 indica-sativa) produce a relaxing, euphoric effect with moderate potency. The purple coloration is not merely cosmetic — it develops naturally through anthocyanin production triggered by cooler temperatures during late flowering, making it one of the most reliably colorful cultivars when environmental conditions are managed properly. The aroma and flavor are distinctive: sweet berry-grape with rubber, spicy, and pine fuel undertones on the nose, translating to a caramel-coffee-woodsy-pine taste on the palate.
Lineage & Genetics
Cross: Unknown Sativa x Indica Landrace
The original indica landrace component is believed to be an Afghani-derived variety adapted to Northern California's coastal climate over decades of outdoor cultivation. The unknown sativa parent contributed stretch, uplifting mental effects, and longer flowering characteristics that balance the indica structure. Both parents remain unidentified — the strain's pedigree lives entirely in Mendocino County oral tradition.
Lineage Dispute
Exact parentage unknown. Oral tradition traces it to bagseed from a purple Afghani variety originally grown in 1977, not cultivated until 1998. Some sources describe it as a backcross of a pure North American Indica landrace. Multiple sites contradict on indica vs sativa dominance (60:40 either direction). BC Bud Depot received the clone at the 2004 Cannabis Cup and spent two years inbreeding to create a stable seed line.
Terpene Profile
Myrcene —
Caryophyllene —
Pinene —
Sabinene —
Phellandrene —
Aroma: Sweet grape and wild berry with rubber/fuel undertones, pine needles, earthy skunk, and a spicy pepper kick. Pungent nose that fills a room. Some phenotypes lean more toward floral grape candy while others express deeper rubber-fuel funk.
Flavor: Caramel coffee on the inhale with nutty undertones, transitioning to sweet grape and berry on the exhale. Woodsy pine and a slight sour edge linger. Hash-like finish with a deep purple grape taste that persists long after exhale.
Effects & Experience
Onset: Begins with an uplifting cerebral wave within 5–10 minutes — clear-headed euphoria and mood elevation without racing thoughts.
Transitions into full-body relaxation while maintaining mental clarity. Deeply calming without heavy sedation at moderate doses. Higher doses bring couch-lock potential and sleepiness. Users report feeling happy, talkative, and creative before the body effects take over.
Duration: 2–3 hours; body relaxation outlasts the initial cerebral lift.
Commonly Reported Uses
Grower's Notes
Mendocino Purps is a legendary clone-only cultivar that emerged from the clandestine growing scene in Mendocino County, California during the late 1990s. The original cut reportedly traces back to bagseed of a purple Afghani variety grown in 1977 but not cultivated until 1998. Its exact parentage remains unknown, though most breeders agree on heavy Afghani indica influence adapted to Northern California's coastal climate. BC Bud Depot later stabilized the genetics into seed form, which helped the strain achieve mainstream recognition and its High Times Strain of the Year honors in 2007.
Growth Structure and Training
In the garden, Mendocino Purps is a moderately vigorous plant that stays compact indoors at 3-4 feet but can stretch to 6-8 feet outdoors in a full season. The growth pattern is multi-branched with medium-thick fan leaves that transition from deep green to increasingly purple as the plant matures — a process dramatically enhanced by introducing cooler night temperatures. For maximum purple expression, drop nighttime temps 8-10°F below daytime during the final two weeks of flower while keeping day temps at 72-78°F. This temperature differential triggers anthocyanin production in the calyxes without stressing the plant.
Flowering Time and Harvest
Flowering runs 8-9 weeks indoors, with outdoor harvest typically falling in mid-October. The strain stretches roughly 1.3-1.6x after the 12/12 flip but stays manageable under 140 cm with training. Indoor yields of around 400 g/m2 are achievable with proper technique, and outdoor plants can produce approximately 400 grams each. The SOG method works particularly well with this cultivar. The heavy, dense colas require physical support — stakes or a trellis net are essential, as branches will snap under bud weight without them.
Environment and Climate
Environmental control is critical for quality results. During veg, maintain 55-65% RH and standard feeding at EC 1.5-1.8 mS/cm. In early flower (weeks 1-4), drop humidity to 45-50% and begin transitioning nutrients toward higher phosphorus and potassium. From week 5 onward, keep RH at 40-45% and finish at 38-42% to prevent botrytis in the dense flower clusters. Soil pH should sit at 6.3-6.8; coco and hydro growers do best at 5.8-6.2. Nitrogen should taper after week 3 of flower, with P and K taking the lead for dense calyx formation. Light intensity targets of 500-700 µmol/m²/s in late veg and 700-900 µmol/m²/s in bloom work well without CO2 supplementation.
Growth Structure and Training
Regular defoliation, topping, and LST are strongly recommended to open the canopy and promote even light distribution. This is not a set-and-forget strain — it rewards growers who stay attentive to environmental conditions and plant training. The finished buds are visually stunning: dense, conical nugs with deep purple to fully saturated violet calyxes, bright amber pistils, and a thick coating of lavender-tinted trichomes. The terpene profile features prominent pinene alongside earthy and fruity notes, producing the characteristic caramel-coffee-pine flavor that defines the strain. THC typically tests in the 16-22% range.
History & Origin
Emerged from Mendocino County, California in the late 1990s — reportedly from bagseed of a purple Afghani variety originally grown in 1977 but not cultivated until 1998. Circulated exclusively as clone-only among Northern California's Emerald Triangle growers through the early 2000s. BC Bud Depot received a cut at the 2004 High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam and spent two years inbreeding it to create a stable IBL seed release. Won High Times Strain of the Year (Top 10) in 2007. Became a foundational parent in the modern purple cannabis lineage, contributing genetics to GDP, Purple Urkle, Grape Ape, Mendo Breath, and dozens of other descendants. SeedFinder lists 89+ direct crosses from the original cut alone.
Awards & Recognition
- ●High Times Strain of the Year — Top 10 (2007)
- ●3rd Place Sativa Cup — High Times Cannabis Cup 2007 (BC Bud Depot)
- ●2nd Place Sativa Cup — High Times Cannabis Cup 2009 (BC Bud Depot)
- ●Top 10 Canadian Strains of All Time — High Times, 2010
Notable Crosses
Strains bred using Mendocino Purps as a parent:
Frequently Asked Questions
7 common questions about Mendocino Purps
What is Mendocino Purps and what are its genetics?
Mendocino Purps is a hybrid cannabis strain (60% Indica / 40% Sativa) bred by Unknown (clone-only from Mendocino County, CA; BC Bud Depot stabilized IBL seed line in 2006). It is a cross of Unknown Sativa x Indica Landrace, testing at 13–22% THC. A legendary clone-only cultivar from Mendocino County that defined the modern purple cannabis category. Emerged in the late 1990s from Northern California's Emerald Triangle growing community and circulated among local cultivators before BC Bud Depot stabilized it into seed form.
What does Mendocino Purps smell and taste like?
Mendocino Purps's dominant terpenes are Myrcene. The aroma is described as sweet grape and wild berry with rubber/fuel undertones, pine needles, earthy skunk, and a spicy pepper kick. pungent nose that fills a room. some phenotypes lean more toward floral grape candy while others express deeper rubber-fuel funk.. The flavor profile features caramel coffee on the inhale with nutty undertones, transitioning to sweet grape and berry on the exhale. woodsy pine and a slight sour edge linger. hash-like finish with a deep purple grape taste that persists long after exhale..
What are the effects of Mendocino Purps?
Begins with an uplifting cerebral wave within 5–10 minutes — clear-headed euphoria and mood elevation without racing thoughts. Transitions into full-body relaxation while maintaining mental clarity. Deeply calming without heavy sedation at moderate doses. Duration is typically 2–3 hours; body relaxation outlasts the initial cerebral lift.. Commonly reported uses include Stress relief, Chronic pain, Anxiety, PTSD.
How hard is Mendocino Purps to grow?
Mendocino Purps is rated moderate difficulty. It flowers in 8-9 weeks, reaches medium (90-120 cm indoor) in height, and yields ~400 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor, outdoor environments.
Does Mendocino Purps turn purple?
Yes. Mendocino Purps is known to express purple coloration, with reported colors including Deep purple, Forest green, Rust-orange pistils, Frosty white trichomes. Cooler nighttime temperatures during late flowering typically intensify anthocyanin expression.
What strains were bred from Mendocino Purps?
Mendocino Purps has been used as a parent in several notable crosses, including Granddaddy Purple, Blackwater, Purple Buddha, Mendo Montage, 303 Purps. Its genetics contribute to a wide range of modern cultivars.
Has Mendocino Purps won any cannabis awards?
Yes. Mendocino Purps has received recognition including High Times Strain of the Year — Top 10 (2007); 3rd Place Sativa Cup — High Times Cannabis Cup 2007 (BC Bud Depot); 2nd Place Sativa Cup — High Times Cannabis Cup 2009 (BC Bud Depot).
Sources & References (24)
- SeedFinder.eu — The Purps / BC Bud Depot (seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/the-purps/bc-bud-depot)
- SeedFinder.eu — Mendo Purps / Unknown or Legendary
- BC Bud Depot — Official product page (bcbuddepot.com/marijuana-seeds/regular/the-purps/)
- Leafly — Mendocino Purps (leafly.com/strains/mendocino-purps)
- Cannapedia.ai — Mendocino Purps
- Herbies Head Shop — The Purps Regular
- DNA Genetics — Mendo Purps cannabis strain
- I Love Growing Marijuana — Mendocino Purps
- GrowDiaries — Mendocino Purps
- Grower's Notes cultivation sources:
- https://cannapedia.ai/strain/mendocino-purps/
- https://www.leafly.com/strains/mendocino-purps
- https://clonesbayarea.com/strain/mendocino-purps-hybrid-2/
- https://rocketseeds.com/product/mendocino-purps-strain-feminized-marijuana-seeds/
- https://blimburnseeds.com/blog/marijuana-crop-guide/how-to-grow-mendocino-purple-kush-regular/
- https://app.jointcommerce.com/blog/category/cannabis-101/the-purps-strain-a-comprehensive-strain-guide/
- https://app.jointcommerce.com/blog/category/cannabis-101/mendo-purps-by-unknown-or-legendary-a-comprehensive-strain-guide/
- https://dnagenetics.com/mendo-purps-cannabis-strain/
- https://askgrowers.com/index.php/strains/mendo-purps-strain-review
- https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/sativa-dominant-hybrid/mendocino-purps
- https://bcbuddepot.com/industry-awards/
- https://bcbuddepot.com/the-top-10-strains-for-this-summer/
- https://cannabiscupwinners.com/blog/2011/08/30/the-purps-bc-bud-depot/
- https://herbiesheadshop.com/cannabis-seeds/the-purps-bc-bud-depot-seeds
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