Habitat: Serviceberries will tolerate a wide variety of soils, from wet, heavy clays to dry, poor, sandy soils. They grow in the forest understory, at forest edges, on sandy plains and on rocky outcrops. Serviceberries are noticeable in the woods in spring, flowering before most other trees leaf out.
Diseases: The black cherry is found in upland woods, wood edges, and along fencerows in a variety of soils. It prefers rich, deep, moist but well-drained soil, but grows on dry ridges as well as on north- or east-facing slopes and in protected coves. This species is subject to many of the fungal leaf infections of cherries, and to twig diseases like black knot and canker. The scallop-shell moth is a serious pest and eastern tent caterpillars can defoliate trees. The thin, scaly bark makes this species susceptible to fire damage.
Distribution: This species is widely distributed throughout the eastern US and is also native from southern New Mexico and western Arizona, south to Guatemala. It is native as far west as the Missouri River in southwestern Iowa and the natural lakes in the northwestern part of the state.
