Urkel: The Purple Legend
Urkel: The Purple Legend
Strain Overview
Type: Indica-Dominant Hybrid (Clone-Only Phenotype)
Also Known As: Purple Urkle, Purple Urkel, The Urkel
Lineage: Mendocino Purps (Select Phenotype)
Market Status: The "Flavor Donor"; Urkel is one of the most famous cuts to ever come out of the Emerald Triangle in Northern California. It is widely accepted as a specific phenotype of Mendocino Purps that was isolated in the 1990s. While it is a legend on its own for its overpowering grape smell and narcotic potency, modern breeders (like those at Barney’s Farm) prize it as a breeding tool. It is the genetic parent that gives strains like Granddaddy Purple and Bad Azz Kush their stunning purple colors and distinct berry-sweet flavor.
THC Content: 18% – 21% (Moderate THC, Extreme Potency)
Dominant Terpenes: Myrcene, Pinene, Humulene, Caryophyllene
Key Effects: "Two-Hit Quitter," Muscle Numbing, Sleep Induction, Euphoric Sedation
You can spell it Urkel (like the TV character) or Urkle, but the smell is unmistakable.
This is the strain that defined the "Purple" craze of the 2000s. Before the modern era of Gelato and Runtz, if you wanted weed that tasted like fruit and put you in a coma, you hunted for Urkel. It is a slow-growing, fussy plant that produces some of the highest-quality, most medicinal Indica flowers on the planet.
History and Lineage: The Mendo Mystery
The Urkel cut is a piece of living history from the California medical scene.
The Origin: In the late 80s and early 90s, growers in Mendocino County were working with "The Purps." A specific plant was found that grew slower than the rest but turned incredible shades of lavender and smelled exactly like grape soda.
The Name: It was named "Urkel" likely due to its potency (it hits you hard enough to make you clumsy) or simply as a pop-culture nod to the Family Matters character popular at the time.
The Legacy: It is the "Mother of Purples." It was crossed with Big Bud to create Granddaddy Purple (to fix Urkel's slow growth), and later used in Bad Azz Kush to inject that signature berry flavor into the OG/Afghan mix.
Terpene Profile: Grape Soda and Skunk
The terpene profile of Urkel is the standard against which all other purple strains are measured.
Dominant Terpenes
Myrcene (The Musk): Exceptionally high levels. This is responsible for the "couch-lock" effect and the heavy, ripe fruit sweetness.
Pinene (The Earth): Provides a sharp pine and herbal contrast to the sweetness, often described as "damp forest."
Humulene (The Hops): Adds a distinct earthy, woody note that makes the grape smell "dank" rather than just sweet like candy.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is thick and heavy. It smells of artificial grape soda, old wine, skunk spray, and wet soil.
The Smoke: It is famous for being thick and expansive in the lungs. It tastes of fermented berries, sweet grapes, and earthy hash.
Strain Effects: The Two-Hit Quitter
Urkel is colloquially known as a "Two-Hit Quitter" because the onset is rapid and the effects are debilitatingly heavy.
The Experience
The Heaviness: There is almost no cerebral "uplift." The high starts immediately in the body. Eyelids droop, and limbs feel heavy.
The Numbness: It is one of the best strains in the world for muscle relaxation. It feels like a warm wave numbing the nerves.
The Mood: While physically sedating, it leaves the mind in a dreamy, contented state. You aren't thinking fast, but you are happy.
The Sleep: It is a premier insomnia treatment. Fighting the sleep on Urkel is a losing battle.
Best For: Severe insomnia, chronic muscle pain, gastrointestinal issues (nausea), and ending the day abruptly.
Growing Urkel: The Slow Burn
The reason Urkel is often crossed (like in Bad Azz Kush) rather than grown pure is its growth speed. It is a "Connoisseur's Crop."
Growth Structure
The Speed: It grows Very Slowly. It can take weeks longer in the vegetative stage to build a substantial root system compared to vigorous hybrids.
The Yield: Low to Moderate. This is a quality-over-quantity strain. The buds are rock-hard and dense, but the plant does not produce massive harvests.
The Color: It naturally turns deep purple and lavender, often regardless of temperature. The visual appeal is elite.
The Feed: It is a heavy feeder once established. It craves magnesium and nitrogen to keep the purple leaves from yellowing too early.
The Resistance: It is susceptible to powdery mildew due to its slow growth and dense foliage. High airflow is critical.
Grower’s Tip: Because it grows so slowly, do not rush the flip to flower. Let it veg until it is about 75% of the final size you want, as it stretches very little during flowering. This is why breeders crossed it with Original OG and Afghan Kush to create Bad Azz Kush—to keep the Urkel flavor but make the plant grow faster and yield more.
Final Verdict: The Grape Matriarch
Urkel is a strain that commands respect. It is not the biggest yielder, nor the fastest grower, but the finished product is undeniable. It provides a specific, medicinal "stone" that modern poly-hybrids often lack. If you are looking for that authentic, old-school grape flavor that tastes like 1996 California, or if you need a strain that will genuinely knock you out for 8 hours, Urkel is the original heavyweight champion.
You should choose Urkel if:
You love Grape/Berry flavors.
You suffer from Severe Insomnia.
You want "Old School" California genetics.
You prioritize Quality over Yield.
Score: 9.3/10 (The Flavor Legend)