Boughens Golden Chokecherry vs Porthos Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Boughens Golden Chokecherry vs Porthos Cherry

Prunus cerasus Porthos

Prunus virginiana Boughens Golden

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Porthos Cherry
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Porthos Cherry is a cold-hardy dwarf sour cherry that features white spring flowers followed by large, dark red fruit in mid-to-late summer. Among sour cherries, Porthos is exceptionally sweet with well-balanced acidity. These cherries are ideal for fresh eating, freezing, baking, winemaking, and preserves.

Porthos Cherry was developed by the University of Saskatchewan Fruit Program as part of the Musketeer series and released in 2022. They recommended growing dwarf sour cherries as a shrub rather than a small tree. The shrub form tends to bear fruit earlier and is less susceptible to winterkill.

Sour cherries are self-fertile; however, planting with additional varieties for cross-pollination can increase yields.

Boughen's Golden Chokecherry typically grows into a shrub form with yellow fruit and beautiful green foliage. This type of chokecherry is particularly sweet because it is non-astringent, meaning that it does not produce tannins. Tannins are what create the puckering, or sour taste when eating something unripe.

The Boughen's Golden Chokecherry is high yielding and the berries are excellent for sauces, jellies, preserves and wine making.

NOTE: These seedlings were grown from seed, not all will be true to type but some will be.

Porthos Cherry Quick Facts

Boughens Golden Chokecherry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2b
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: semi upright, compact
Spreading: suckering - low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: white
Bloom time: mid to late spring
Fruit: deep red
Berries: yellow
Flavor: sweet with balanced acidity
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: porthos sour cherry