It grows into thickets in wooded areas and has good fall color. Its fruits attract birds. Plant serviceberry in moist, well-drained soil in sun to partial shade. Serviceberry blends well into a woodland setting. On the downside, it is susceptible to leaf blight, fire blight rust and mildews, as well as borers and scale.
Some newer cultivars are more resistant.
This plant's common names are references to two weather-related events. Its bloom is supposed to coincide with the time shad are spawning. By the time it bloomed, settlers could proceed with funerals and burial for anyone who had died over the winter when the ground was frozen. That's because it can be challenging to transplant and get established. Even then, redbud is not a long-lived tree compared with many others.