Red Purps

Red Purps Cannabis Seeds by Female Seeds

Red Purps is a feminized cannabis seed from Female Seeds that delivers a striking display of red and purple colouring alongside a candy licorice flavour profile that genuinely stands out. Think of her as Purple Power's tastier sibling — same growth potential, same captivating colour palette, but with a smoke experience that's a clear step up. She flowers in around 50 days and reaches harvest by mid-to-late September, making her one of the faster photoperiod strains we carry.

Why Red Purps Cannabis Seeds Deserve a Spot in Your Garden

We've had customers walk past Purple Power for years and never look twice at anything else. Red Purps is the strain that changes their mind. She shares Purple Power's vigorous growth and that jaw-dropping colour palette — deep purples bleeding into reds across the calyxes — but where she pulls ahead is flavour. The candy licorice taste is genuinely sweet without being cloying, and the aroma matches. You'll smell it on your fingers after handling the buds.

According to research published in When Cannabis sativa L. Turns Purple: Biosynthesis, cannabis tissues accumulate disubstituted cyanidin-based anthocyanins that are the major determinants of the red and purple colouration seen in certain cultivars (PMC10376404). That's the science behind why Red Purps looks the way she does — those anthocyanins are working overtime, and cooler night temperatures during late flowering can push the colours even harder.

The honest limitation? Yields favour quality over quantity. You're not going to pull record-breaking harvests from Red Purps. If you're chasing maximum weight per square metre, this isn't the strain. But what you do harvest will be dense, resinous, and flavourful enough to make up for any shortfall on the scales. We'd pick a jar of Red Purps over a bag of bland bulk flower every single time.

Red Purps Growing Profile — What to Expect

Red Purps grows with an Indica-influenced structure — compact branching, sturdy stems, and a natural tendency to stay manageable. Outdoors she'll reach 1.5 to 2 metres tall. Indoors, expect shorter plants that respond well to low-stress training if you want to maximise your canopy spread.

The 50-day flowering period is genuinely quick for a photoperiod strain. Most growers report harvest readiness by mid-to-late September outdoors, which is a real advantage in northern European climates where October rain can wreck a late-finishing crop. She gets in, does her thing, and gets out before the weather turns.

One thing to watch: those beautiful colours can mask nutrient issues. Purpling from anthocyanin production looks similar to phosphorus deficiency at a glance. Keep your feeding schedule consistent and don't panic when the colours shift — that's genetics, not a problem. According to research on light quality impacts on cannabis growth, monochromatic red light resulted in smaller plants and a significantly lower growth rate during vegetative stages (PMC9659141), so if you're growing indoors, a full-spectrum LED with a balanced red-to-blue ratio will serve Red Purps better than a narrow-band setup.

Flavour, Aroma, and the Red Purps Smoke Experience

This is where Red Purps earns her keep. The candy licorice flavour isn't subtle — it's front and centre from the first inhale. There's a sweetness that sits on the tongue, backed by an anise-like depth that lingers. The aroma when you crack open a cured jar is rich, dark, and almost confectionery. If you've ever walked past a Dutch drop shop and caught that wave of sweet liquorice, you're in the right ballpark.

The smoke itself leans Sativa in character despite the Indica-influenced growth structure. That's an interesting combination — a plant that grows compact and finishes fast but delivers effects that feel more cerebral and uplifting than heavy and sedating. It's the kind of strain you reach for in the afternoon rather than right before bed.

Compared to Purple Power, the difference in taste is night and day. Purple Power is a solid all-rounder, but Red Purps is the one you show off to friends. She's the best candy-flavoured purple strain we've come across from Female Seeds, and that's saying something given how deep their catalogue runs.

The Science Behind Those Purple and Red Colours

Red Purps gets her name from the vivid reds and purples that develop across her flowers and sugar leaves during flowering. This isn't a gimmick — it's anthocyanin production driven by genetics and environmental conditions.

According to research on anthocyanin biosynthesis in cannabis, C. sativa tissues accumulate disubstituted cyanidin-based anthocyanins that serve as the major determinants of red and purple pigmentation (PMC10376404). Cooler night temperatures — around 10–15°C during the final 2–3 weeks of flowering — can intensify these colours significantly. Outdoor growers in the Netherlands and northern Europe often get this temperature drop naturally in September, which is convenient given Red Purps' harvest window.

Research on far-red light and cannabis has shown that the ratio of red to far-red light triggers shade avoidance responses in plants (PMC12092679). Indoor growers experimenting with supplemental far-red LEDs during the final weeks of flowering have reported enhanced colour expression, though the primary driver remains genetics. Red Purps has the genetic foundation — you're just giving her the conditions to show it off.

How to Grow Red Purps Cannabis Seeds

1. Germinate your feminized Red Purps seeds using the paper towel method or directly in a starter plug. Keep temperatures between 20–25°C and maintain high humidity (around 70%) during the first 48–72 hours until taproots emerge.
2. Transplant seedlings into their growing medium once taproots reach 1–2cm. A light, airy soil mix or coco coir works well. Red Purps isn't fussy about medium, but good drainage is non-negotiable.
3. Maintain an 18/6 light cycle during vegetative growth. She'll develop a compact, Indica-style structure with sturdy side branches. Low-stress training during veg can open up the canopy and improve light penetration to lower bud sites.
4. Switch to a 12/12 light cycle to trigger flowering. Outdoors, this happens naturally as days shorten through August and September. The 50-day flowering period means you should see mature trichomes by mid-to-late September.
5. During the final 2–3 weeks of flowering, drop night temperatures to 10–15°C if possible. This encourages the anthocyanin production that gives Red Purps her signature red and purple colouring.
6. Harvest when trichomes show a mix of milky and amber under magnification. Dry slowly in a dark room at 18–20°C with 55–60% humidity for 7–10 days, then cure in glass jars for at least 2 weeks. The candy licorice flavour deepens considerably with a proper cure — don't rush this step.

Red Purps vs Purple Power — Which Should You Grow?

Since Female Seeds positions Red Purps as the companion to Purple Power, the comparison is inevitable. Here's how they stack up:

The bottom line: if flavour is your priority, Red Purps wins. If you want a slightly more balanced effect profile and don't mind a less distinctive taste, Purple Power is a solid choice. Both finish fast, both look stunning, and both come from the same genetic stable. We'd grow both if space allowed — but if we had to pick one, Red Purps gets the nod for that licorice flavour alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: April 2026