While not a whole lot is known about where the Purple Arrow strain actually came from, there’s a significant amount to be said about everything else. This indica-dominant hybrid is known for its impressive medical benefits.
The following is a complete guide to the Purple Arrow strain, including its genetics and origin, its appearance, flavor and aroma, its cannabinoid content and terpene content, its side effects, its medical benefits, as well as its cultivation process.
Strain History
Quite the mysterious strain, the exact origins of Purple Arrow have thus far eluded the cannabis community, and will most likely continue to do so. Nonetheless, here’s all the information available on how the strain came to be.
Genetics
The Purple Arrow strain is an indica dominant hybrid (specifically 85% indica and 15% sativa), and is a cross between Purple Afghani (an award-winning indica that tastes the closest to pineapple you’re going to find on the market, Purple Afghani is itself a cross between Purple Kush and Bubba Kush) and Hindu Kush (also known as Hindi Kush, and indigenous to the Hindu Kush mountain chain which is the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan).
The crossing of Purple Arrow and Phantom Kush led to Phantom Arrow, known for its flavors of champagne, eucalyptus, and cherry.
There are a number of strains with which Purple Arrow has a fair amount in common. As well as Phantom Arrow, these include Wedding Cake (also known as Triangle Mints #23, and a cross between Triangle Kush and Animal Mints), GG4 (also known as Gorilla Glue #4, and a three-way cross made from Chem’s Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel), and Ice Cream Cake (a cross between Wedding Cake and Gelato #33).
Origin
The exact breeders of the Purple Arrow strain are unknown, so there’s not much information publicly available about its origins.
Strain Appearance
In terms of how Purple Arrow looks, it’s reasonably tame if you’re comparing it to some of the more vibrant cannabis plants. With small to medium sized nugs, its colors are low key; some light mint green, some purple, with orange pistils. Unlike some strains which appear almost frosty, this strain has just a dusting of milky white trichomes, and minimal resin.
Strain Flavor
The Purple Arrow strain tastes sweet, with hints of spicy herbs, as well as some undertones of honey brought out on the exhale. There are a variety of other tastes recorded, though. Some of these include citrus, earthy, mint, plum, wood, tobacco, roses, grapes, and coffee.
Strains with flavors closest to Purple Arrow include Code Blue (which is a cross between San Diego Cat Piss and Face Off OG BX1), Dragon Lady (which is a cross between Blue Dragon and Flo), and White Fire OG (also known as White Fire, and a cross between Fire OG Kush and The White).
Strain Aroma
Purple Arrow’s aromas are very floral (to the point that it’s often compared to the smell of a bouquet), as well as earthy.
Strain Cannabinoids
A strain’s cannabinoids are the naturally occurring compounds found within cannabis plants. The primary psychoactive component in cannabis is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and it’s this ingredient that provides users with the ‘high’.
The secondary ingredient is CBD (cannabidiol), which is responsible for the relaxation part of consuming cannabis.
When it comes to cannabinoids, Purple Arrow has a THC level that averages between 17% and 23%, with its highest recorded THC level being 24%. While its peak level is fairly high, its average is modest, meaning it can be enjoyed by even novice smokers.
While its CBD level may seem low (averaging somewhere between 3 and 4%), it’s actually quite high compared to other strains, which often have levels lower than 1%.
Its other cannabinoids include CBC (between 0.24% and 0.47%), CBG (between 0.09% and 0.6%), CBN (between 0.18% and 0.24%), and THCV (between 0.18% and 0.33%).
Strain Terpenes
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds found within many plants, including tea, sage, citrus fruits, and thyme. They are most commonly associated with cannabis, due to the high concentration found within said plants. They have a wide range of medicinal uses, but they also give a strain its aromas.
The terpenes most abundant in the Purple Arrow strain are linalool (0.3%), a floral and spicy terpene, and caryophyllene (0.3%), a peppery terpene. Its other terpenes include ocimene and pulegone. Its total terpene content is 1%.
Strain Side Effects
As with all strains, it’s important to be aware of all potential side effects before consuming cannabis.
The Purple Arrow strain is a well rounded one when it comes to the effects it’ll have on you. Some consumers experience euphoria due to the THC, but as psychoactive experiences go, this one will be reasonably mild.
Purple Arrow’s most notable effects are triggered by its comparatively high CBD count. It delivers high levels of sedation, so is most recommended for use at night, but doesn’t tend to leave consumers couch locked.
Other effects that consumers have noted are happiness, hunger, increased focus, creativity, giggles, and a tingly sensation.
As with its positive effects, it’s also important to be aware of a strain’s negative side effects before consuming cannabis.
Nothing of concern has been reported in regards to Purple Arrow, but consumers may experience thirst and dry mouth, dry eyes, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and a rapid heartbeat. Most of these can be remedied by staying hydrated, or focusing on your breathing.
Strains that provide similar effects are SPK (also known as Sour Patch Kid, and a cross between Sour Diesel and Sour Kush), Mango Tango (a three-way cross of True OG, Tangie, and Peaches), and American Pie (a cross between Power Plant and White Widow).
The most unique thing about Purple Arrow, though, and its high CBD level, is its medical benefits.
Medical Benefits
The Purple Arrow strain has an assortment of medical benefits. Consumers reportedly experience pain relief with impressive immediacy, whether the pain is mild, moderate, or severe.
Purple Arrow can also help with reversing alcohol damage to the brain, can alleviate even the most severe social anxiety, can serve as an efficient anti-psychotic, and is also effective at slowing or stopping the advance of cancer.
The strain is also commonly used to deal with stress, migraines, arthritis, lack of appetite, anxiety, depression, insomnia, muscle spasms, and fibromyalgia (a disorder that usually appears in the form of musculoskeletal pain, as well as fatigue, insomnia, mood swings, and memory problems).
Strain Review
An all rounder, the Purple Arrow is recommended most for its CBD content. The medical benefits are particularly impressive, and is a must for eligible medical patients with serious symptoms.
If you’re a smoker that’s more familiar with THC-heavy strains, it’s always good to branch out and experience a strain that has a fair amount of both THC and CBD. It also smells like a bouquet of flowers, so… not exactly any downsides to this one!
Strain Grow Info
While its exact origins are a mystery, we still know enough about Purple Arrow’s cultivation process that growing it is perfectly doable. The following guide includes all the publicly available information regarding the Purple Arrow strain’s cultivation process.
Strains with a similar cultivation process include Sour Blueberry (a cross between Blueberry and Sour Diesel #2), Biohazard, and Purple Elephant (also known as Elephant Purple).
Strain Seeds
The Purple Arrow strain is available as both seeds and clones. While cultivating cannabis from seeds is a perfectly legitimate process, there are some benefits to cultivating from a clone.
The first of these benefits is that it ensures your plants will be female, or at least that there’ll be no males in the mix (male cannabis plants tend not to provide the same benefits that female plants do).
Another benefit of going with clones over seeds is that you know exactly what you’re getting (if your source is an honest one, of course). It should be noted, though, that many growers do prefer cultivating cannabis from seeds.
Strain Flowering Time
Purple Arrow can be grown indoors and outdoors, and usually grows to a length of three feet. Its flowering time averages somewhere between 50 and 61 days, while you can expect to harvest after roughly 67 days. Its flowering type is photoperiod.
Strain Yield
The yield of this strain is fairly low, with between 1 to 2 ounces per square foot (or 400g per square meter) when grown indoors, and between 15 to 20 ounces per plant (or 550g per plant) when grown outdoors.
There’s a chance you may be able to increase the yield of Purple Arrow by using selective light training and experimenting with multiple light systems; blue lights have been proven to increase yield. Be sure the light is close to the stem, otherwise the leaves might grow downwards (which we don’t want).
This website will serve as the ultimate guide and record for various different cannabis strains that are available, from melon gum and golden goat, to wookie and hog strains. There is so much to learn about each strain, and each has its own benefits and medicinal properties.
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