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Sour Cherry vs Porthos Cherry
Prunus cerasus
Prunus cerasus Porthos
COMING SOON
(new stock expected: fall of 2026)
COMING SOON
(new stock expected: fall of 2026)
Sour Cherry is cold-hardy and typically grows as a small tree. In late spring, it produces clusters of fragrant white blossoms that mature into bright red, tart fruit. Although the cherries can be eaten fresh, they are most commonly used in baking and preserves.
While not native to North America, Sour Cherry serves as a larval host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), a butterfly native to eastern North America.
Sour cherries are self-fertile; however, planting near additional cherry trees for cross-pollination can increase yields.
This Sour Cherry is produced from seed collected from an Evans Cherry and is not clonally reproduced.
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.

