Black cherry grows in hardwood hammocks and open areas throughout eastern North America, and is often found along roadways, fences, old fields, and pastures. It ranges from southern Canada to central Florida, and as far west as North Dakota and eastern Texas. It is less common from southern New Mexico and western Arizona southward to Guatemala.

It is shrubby at the northern limits of its range. The black cherry is most common on deep, rich, moist soils in mixed stands with oaks, ashes, hickories, and yellow-poplar. It is less common on sandy soils.