Witch Hazel vs Porthos Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Witch Hazel vs Porthos Cherry

Prunus cerasus Porthos

Hamamelis virginiana

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: later this season)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Porthos Cherry
Witch Hazel

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.

Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub, or small tree, with a short trunk, bearing numerous spreading, crooked branches.

The seeds grow in a long, wooden pod with two to four seeds per pod. Upon ripening, the pods burst, firing the seeds up to 30km an hour.

The leaf and bark extract of Witch Hazel has been used as a remedy to common ailments such as inflammation, bruises and much more for many centuries.

Porthos Cherry Quick Facts

Witch Hazel Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Growth form: semi upright, compact
Spreading: suckering - low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: white
Bloom time: mid to late spring
Fruit: deep red
Flavor: sweet with balanced acidity
Harvest: mid to late summer
Seeds: seeds ejected to a distance of up to 30 ft
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Other Names: porthos sour cherry