Mustang Cherry Plum vs Porthos Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Mustang Cherry Plum vs Porthos Cherry

Prunus x Jefchum

Prunus cerasus Porthos

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Mustang Cherry Plum
Porthos Cherry

Mustang Cherry Plum is a cherry-plum hybrid. They are known for their fragrant white flowers in spring and sweet fruit in late August. Mustang Cherry Plums are about one inch in diameter and they have a strong cherry taste. This plant is small enough to fit in moderately sized yards.

Because of Mustang Cherry Plum's genetics and cold hardiness, it is popular for grafting and as a rootstock.

For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

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.

Mustang Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Porthos Cherry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: semi upright, compact
Spreading: suckering - low
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: white
Bloom time: mid to late spring
Fruit: deep red
Fruit size: 1 inch in diameter
Flavor: sweet with red strong cherry taste
Flavor: sweet with balanced acidity
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: porthos sour cherry