Pin Cherry vs Porthos Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Pin Cherry vs Porthos Cherry

Prunus pensylvanica

Prunus cerasus Porthos

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Pin Cherry
Porthos Cherry

Pin Cherry is a small tree that produces clusters of white blossoms in spring followed by bright red berries that ripen through the summer. The attractive red color of the leaves in the fall is an added bonus.

The fruit is quite sour when eaten fresh but is excellent when cooked into jam or jelly. Birds love the berries and will be attracted to your property.

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.

Pin Cherry Quick Facts

Porthos Cherry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: semi upright, compact
Spreading: suckering - low
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: very bright orangish-red
Bark: reddish brown bark has an attractive appearance in the winter
Flowers: white
Flowers: white
Bloom time: mid to late spring
Fruit: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Fruit: deep red
Berries: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Flavor: sweet with balanced acidity
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, NT, PE
Other Names: bird cherry, fire cherry, pincherry, red cherry, wild red cherry
Other Names: porthos sour cherry