Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds

10+ Organically Grown Seeds — Cherokee Purple Tomato

Few heirloom tomatoes have achieved the legendary status of Cherokee Purple. With its distinctive dusky purple coloring, exceptionally rich flavor, and remarkable history, this American heirloom has earned a permanent place among the world’s most beloved tomatoes.

Cherokee Purple’s journey into modern gardens began in 1990, when Tennessee gardener John D. Green sent an unnamed purple tomato to renowned tomato collector Craig LeHoullier. According to Green, the seeds had been passed down through generations of a Tennessee family, whose ancestors reportedly received them from Cherokee people more than a century earlier.

LeHoullier grew the seeds, discovered their extraordinary flavor, and named the variety Cherokee Purple. He subsequently shared seeds with other preservationists, helping introduce this remarkable tomato to gardeners across the country. Today, Cherokee Purple stands as one of the great success stories of American heirloom seed preservation.

The flavor is what makes Cherokee Purple unforgettable. Its large, slightly flattened beefsteak tomatoes develop beautiful dusky rose, purple, and brown tones, frequently accompanied by dark green shoulders. Slice one open and you’ll discover a striking interior of deep crimson, purple, and earthy brown.

The flesh is exceptionally juicy and meaty, delivering a complex combination of sweetness, acidity, and deep, savory richness. Often described as having a subtle smoky quality, Cherokee Purple offers the kind of full-bodied, old-fashioned tomato flavor that keeps gardeners returning to it year after year.

Plants are indeterminate with regular-leaf foliage, producing medium-large beefsteak fruits typically weighing 8–12 ounces, although larger specimens are possible. The vines benefit from sturdy staking or caging to support their substantial fruit.

With maturity generally around 72–80 days from transplanting, Cherokee Purple is a midseason variety that rewards gardeners with beautiful slicing tomatoes perfect for sandwiches, fresh salads, and enjoying with nothing more than a little salt.

Variety: Cherokee Purple
Species: Solanum lycopersicum
Type: American Heirloom Beefsteak
Historical Association: Tennessee, United States
Introduced: 1990s, through Craig LeHoullier and seed preservation networks
Growth Habit: Indeterminate
Leaf Type: Regular Leaf
Fruit Color: Dusky Purple-Brown with Dark Green Shoulders
Fruit Shape: Flattened Beefsteak
Fruit Weight: Typically 8–12 Ounces
Flavor: Rich, Sweet, Savory, Complex, Balanced Acidity
Days to Maturity: Approximately 72–80 Days from Transplanting
Pollination: Open-Pollinated
Best Uses: Fresh Slicing, Sandwiches, Salads & Fresh Eating

Cherokee Purple is more than just an exceptional tomato. It’s a living piece of American gardening history, preserved through generations of seed saving and celebrated for a flavor that modern supermarket tomatoes simply cannot match.