The Official Cannabis Independent strain guides
Granddaddy Purple No 17 Shop
The Strain Deck · King of HeartsNo 17 · Granddaddy Purplegranddaddypurplestrain.com
Granddaddy Purple stamp, No. 17 in the Official Cannabis collection: an indigo grape bunch on pink

Catalogue entry · lab-tested · every claim cited

Granddaddy Purple strain

Granddaddy Purple, often sold as GDP, is an indica that Ken Estes popularized in 2003 and launched in Oakland; most sources list it as Purple Urkle × Big Bud, while Leafly gives Mendo Purps × Skunk × Afghanistan.1,2,3,4 It tests at a median total THC of 17.87% across 512 state lab tests of Granddaddy Purple flower, with the middle half of results between 15.00% and 21.55%.5 CBD is negligible: 2 of 439 tests that reported CBD reached 1%.5

The Old Angler standing at the end of a grey-green wooden dock in a deep-violet knit cap with a pompom, a cream cable-knit sweater, an open lavender coat, dark trousers and violet rubber boots, holding a cane rod across his chest in one hand, its line and cream float hanging at the left, and a dark thermos with tan spots by its lid in the other. A small wooden rowing boat lies beside the dock, and behind him a still violet lake runs back to a dark line of pines with one lit cabin window reflected in the water, under a pale lavender sky, all inside a cream border.
Postmaster: The Old AnglerThe middle of the lake, the last ten minutes of light. If Granddaddy Purple is your strain, read your sign →

Updated 512 lab tests 20 sources

Design
An indigo grape bunch on pink · No 17 in the collection
In the Strain Deck
King of Hearts · Fruit suit
Also known as
GDP, Grand Daddy Purp, Granddaddy Purps, Grandaddy Purple; Weedmaps adds Big Daddy Purp1,3
Type
Indica (Leafly, Weedmaps); 70% indica per AllBud; seed versions sold as 75–80% indica1,3,4,6,7
Parents and origin
Purple Urkle × Big Bud in most accounts (Leafly: Mendo Purps × Skunk × Afghanistan); popularized by Ken Estes, who launched it in Oakland in 20031,2,3,4,6
THC (lab tests)
17.87% median; 15.00%–21.55% middle half; 512 tests in 9 states5
CBD (lab tests)
287 of the 439 tests that reported CBD found none, and 2 reached 1% or more5
Top terpenes (median)
limonene 0.24%, β-caryophyllene 0.21%, β-myrcene 0.14% (55 tests with individual terpene values, 45 of them from Nevada)5
Flavor (as listed)
Grape, berry, violet (Leafly); grape 49% and berry 31% of flavor reports (Weedmaps)1,3
Effects (Leafly’s top three)
Sleepy, relaxed, hungry1
Flowering time
About 55–65 days indoors in most listings; about 77–80 days for two seed lines1,3,6,7,8

The guide one plate per section

Plate I

Genetics

Granddaddy Purple is an indica, usually listed as Purple Urkle × Big Bud; Leafly says Mendo Purps × Skunk × Afghanistan. Ken Estes’s story, seeds, offspring.

Plate II

THC & terpenes

Granddaddy Purple flower tests at 17.87% median THC (15.00%–21.55%) in 512 state lab results, with limonene leading the terpene panels and almost no CBD.

Plate III

Effects

Leafly’s top effects for Granddaddy Purple are sleepy, relaxed and hungry; Weedmaps and AllBud add euphoric. Reported downsides: dry mouth, dry eyes, dizziness.

Plate IV

Grow

Granddaddy Purple flowers in about 55–65 days indoors in most listings and finishes outdoors by early October. Breeder specs, yields and heights, side by side.

Plate V

Where to find it

Granddaddy Purple flower was listed by 58 stores near New York on Weedmaps on Oct 4, 2026; 14 of 27 US markets had none. Counts and eighth prices by market.

Plate VI

History

From a plant Ken Estes says came from Humboldt to an Oakland launch in 2003, a 2015 Cannabis Cup and #2 in Leafly’s 2025 orders: the history of GDP, sourced.

Quick answers

Is Granddaddy Purple indica or sativa?

An indica. Leafly and Weedmaps both classify it as one, and Leafly rates it mostly calming; AllBud calls it an indica-dominant hybrid at 70% indica, and seed versions are sold as 75–80% indica.1,3,4,6,7

What strain is GDP?

GDP is short for Granddaddy Purple, the grape-scented indica Ken Estes popularized in 2003; Leafly and Weedmaps list GDP among its other names, along with Grand Daddy Purp and Granddaddy Purps. Most sources describe it as a cross of Purple Urkle and Big Bud.1,3,4

How strong is Granddaddy Purple?

Its lab results sit toward the lower end of the strains we track: the median total THC across 512 state lab tests was 17.87%, 3.1% of tests reached 25% or more, and 53 of the other 57 strains in our dataset have a higher median.5 Strain databases list 17% (Leafly), 20–27% (AllBud) and 19–28% (Weedmaps).1,3,4

What does Granddaddy Purple taste like?

Grape first. On Weedmaps, 49% of flavor reports say grape, 31% berry and 20% spicy or herbal; Leafly users list grape, berry and violet, and AllBud describes a super sweet grape flavor with a pungent, harsh aftertaste.1,3,4

Who created Granddaddy Purple?

Ken Estes, by most accounts: Leafly and Weedmaps say he popularized it in 2003, and he told Leafly he launched it in Oakland, on Telegraph Avenue, from a plant called Purple Medicine that the Pomo had up in Humboldt.1,2,3 Accounts of what he did differ: United Cannabis Seeds says he crossed Big Bud with Purple Urkle, while Estes told Klub Kush Magazine his cut came from crossing Skunk strains (see history).7,9

Where can I buy Granddaddy Purple?

At licensed stores, most often around New York going by Weedmaps: on Oct 4, 2026, 58 stores within 50 miles of New York listed Granddaddy Purple flower, out of 182 store listings across the 27 US markets we checked; 14 markets had none (see where to find it).10

How strong Granddaddy Purple tests

17.87%median total THC
15.00%–21.55%middle half of tests
512lab tests, 9 states
30testing labs

THC in 512 lab tests of Granddaddy Purple flower

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 6–7% THC: 0 tests 7–8% THC: 0 tests 8–9% THC: 0 tests 9–10% THC: 4 tests 10–11% THC: 2 tests 11–12% THC: 8 tests 12–13% THC: 21 tests 13–14% THC: 31 tests 14–15% THC: 53 tests 15–16% THC: 47 tests 16–17% THC: 43 tests 17–18% THC: 45 tests 18–19% THC: 30 tests 19–20% THC: 34 tests 20–21% THC: 38 tests 21–22% THC: 35 tests 22–23% THC: 34 tests 23–24% THC: 35 tests 24–25% THC: 28 tests 25–26% THC: 9 tests 26–27% THC: 1 tests 27–28% THC: 3 tests 28–29% THC: 2 tests 29–30% THC: 0 tests 30–31% THC: 0 tests 31–32% THC: 0 tests 32–33% THC: 1 tests 33–34% THC: 0 tests 8%12%16%20%24%28%32% median 17.87% Total THC, % by weight
Each bar counts tests in a one-point THC band; the shaded band is the middle half of results. 512 tests of Granddaddy Purple flower from 9 states, 2015–2024.5

Full lab data: by year, by state, terpenes and the downloadable dataset →

From the lab report

  • Washington and Michigan split sharply for Granddaddy Purple: 81% of Washington tests were at 20% THC or higher, compared with 4.5% in Michigan.5
  • Granddaddy Purple sits low on potency versus peers, ranking 50th of 52 by median THC at 17.87% and 47th by its 3.1% share at 25% or higher.5
  • The terpene lead is almost tied: limonene led 36% of terpene tests, while β-caryophyllene led 33%.5

Read the full Granddaddy Purple lab report →

Number two in Leafly’s 2025 orders

Granddaddy Purple was the second best-selling strain in Leafly’s 2025 dispensary orders nationwide, behind Blue Dream, in a ranking that counts flower, concentrates, cartridges and pre-rolls. It was not the top seller in any of the 23 adult-use states in The Marijuana Herald’s September 2026 list.11,12

Its reputation is older than the charts. In April 2015 a “Granddaddy Purps” from Herbal Healing won Best US Indica Flower at the High Times Cannabis Cup in Denver, and Leafly’s list of the 100 best strains of all time includes it among strains for feeling sleepy; the same list has five strains bred from it, Purple Punch, Cherry Pie, Candyland, God’s Gift and FPOG.3,13,14 Its Leafly page carries 5,727 ratings, and Ken Estes told Leafly the name turns up in the film Pineapple Express and on the TV series Weeds.1,2

On Oct 4, 2026, Weedmaps showed Granddaddy Purple flower at 182 store listings in 13 of 27 US markets, 58 of them within 50 miles of New York.10 The name travels on extracts too: in state lab records, 292 concentrate results matched it strictly, against 512 flower tests.5

Granddaddy Purple next to similar strains

Lab-tested THC: Granddaddy Purple and the 6 strains on our comparison pages

14% 16% 18% 20% 22% 24% Candyland Candyland: median 20.99%, middle half 18.84%–23.86%, 514 tests 21.0% n=514 OG Kush OG Kush: median 20.87%, middle half 18.06%–23.36%, 379 tests 20.9% n=379 Northern Lights Northern Lights: median 20.03%, middle half 17.28%–22.05%, 406 tests 20.0% n=406 Blue Dream Blue Dream: median 19.96%, middle half 17.62%–22.37%, 2,118 tests 20.0% n=2,118 Purple Urkle Purple Urkle: median 19.00%, middle half 15.98%–22.42%, 35 tests 19.0% n=35 Grape Ape Grape Ape: median 18.42%, middle half 15.37%–21.25%, 202 tests 18.4% n=202 Granddaddy Purple Granddaddy Purple: median 17.87%, middle half 15.00%–21.55%, 512 tests 17.9% n=512 Median total THC (dot) and middle half of tests (bar)
Same state lab dataset and matching rules for every strain.5 See the comparisons.

Where it is sold

MarketStoresMenu itemsMedian eighth
New York, NY 58 71 $29.10 (n=16)
Los Angeles, CA 56 72 $36.00 (n=27)
Seattle, WA 19 37 $19.00 (n=15)
Portland, ME 11 12 $30.00 (n=10)
Detroit, MI 9 9 $15.00 (n=2)
Boston, MA 8 10 $40.00 (n=5)

Stores within 50 miles listing Granddaddy Purple flower on Weedmaps, Oct 4, 2026.10

In Germany, where it is a prescription medicine, weed.de lists 2 pharmacy products made from Granddaddy Purple; in-stock flower starts at €3.95 a gram.20

All 27 markets, Germany and how we counted →

Genetics at a glance

Family tree

  • Purple UrkleIndica; a Mendocino Purps phenotype; most accounts
  • Big BudIndica; Afghani, Northern Lights and Skunk #1
  • Mendocino PurpsLeafly’s account, with Skunk and Afghanistan

Granddaddy Purple

  • Purple PunchGranddaddy Purple × Larry OG
  • Cherry PieGranddaddy Purple × F1 Durb
  • CandylandGranddaddy Purple × Bay Platinum Cookies
  • Grand HinduGranddaddy Purple × Hindu Kush
  • Grand Doggy PurpsGranddaddy Purple × Chemdawg D
  • God’s GiftGranddaddy Purple × OG Kush
  • FPOGGreen Ribbon × GDP × Tahoe Alien
Parents and offspring as reported by Weedmaps, AllBud, Leafly and breeders; the parents are disputed.1,3,4,14,15,16,17,18,19

Purple Urkle × Big Bud, or Mendo Purps × Skunk × Afghanistan? The full genetics page →

The Old Angler standing at the end of a grey-green wooden dock in a deep-violet knit cap with a pompom, a cream cable-knit sweater, an open lavender coat, dark trousers and violet rubber boots, holding a cane rod across his chest in one hand, its line and cream float hanging at the left, and a dark thermos with tan spots by its lid in the other. A small wooden rowing boat lies beside the dock, and behind him a still violet lake runs back to a dark line of pines with one lit cabin window reflected in the water, under a pale lavender sky, all inside a cream border.

The Granddaddy Purple universe

Your sign: The Old Angler

If Granddaddy Purple is your strain, you row out at dusk with one rod and a dented thermos, and you are in no hurry at all. Meet the Old Angler.

Read your sign See the shop

The issue printed on demand, nothing on sale yet

The whole issue →

Sources

  1. Leafly, Granddaddy Purple (aka GDP) strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  2. Leafly, Meet the daddy of Granddaddy Purple (Lindsay MaHarry) (2026-07-21). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  3. Weedmaps, Granddaddy Purple strain page. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  4. AllBud, Granddaddy Purple marijuana strain information and reviews. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  5. Cannlytics (CC BY 4.0), cannabis_results: public state lab results (filtered and aggregated by Official Cannabis). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  6. Royal Queen Seeds, Granddaddy Purple feminized seeds (data sheet). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  7. SeedFinder, Granddaddy Purple (United Cannabis Seeds): strain info. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  8. SeedFinder, Grand Daddy Purp (Grand Daddy Purp): strain info, cannabinoids and genealogy. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  9. Leafly, Pleased as Purple Punch: a ‘Purps’ family genealogy (Amelia Williams) (2021-04-08). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  10. Weedmaps listings, compiled by Official Cannabis, Weedmaps flower menu snapshot, 27 US markets, Oct 4, 2026. Accessed Oct 4, 2026. Latest capture Oct 4, 2026.
  11. Leafly, The best-selling weed strains of 2025 (2026-02-02). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  12. The Marijuana Herald, The top-selling marijuana strain in all 23 states with legal recreational sales (2026-09-18). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  13. Westword, High Times Cannabis Cup: a rookie's experience, winners and more (Herbert Fuego) (2015-04-21). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  14. Leafly, Leafly’s 100 best weed strains of all time (2026-07-14). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  15. Leafly, Purple Punch strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  16. Leafly, Cherry Pie strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  17. Leafly, Candyland strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  18. Leafly, Grand Hindu strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  19. Leafly, Grand Doggy Purps strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  20. Weed.de, compiled by Official Cannabis, Weed.de pharmacy-product snapshot (2 exact matched products; complete; read Oct 3, 2026). Previously captured catalogue of 2,150 product pages; exact listed-strain match.. Accessed Oct 3, 2026. Latest capture Oct 3, 2026.