Black haw grows on a range of moist to dry, open sites in rocky upland forests. It is also common along fence rows and thickets. It tolerates dry conditions very well, and can grow in either sun or shade. It is present in most counties in Illinois, and ranges from Connecticut to Michigan, south to Texas and east to northern Florida.

Interesting Facts
Viburnum species are widespread and common in the eastern deciduous forest. Most are shrubs and all have fleshy fruits containing a single seed. They are difficult to characterize as a group because there are few all-inclusive characteristics among different species. Smooth blackhaw has alligator-hide patterned bark, just as the flowering dogwood does. However, its bark is corkier than that of flowering dogwood.

Identifying Features

Bark
Black haw bark is reddish-brown to dark brown or black and has a distinctive "blocky" appearance. 
Twigs
The twigs are smooth, slender, gray or brown, and have orange-colored lenticels (pores, either circular, elliptical, or stripe shaped, on the bark that allow the exchange of gases). 
Buds
Buds are 1/2 inch in length, gray or reddish-gray and sometimes covered with purplish hairs.
Leaves
The leaves are opposite, oval with short, pointed tips, and are rounded or tapering to the base. The leaf margins are toothed. They are 2-3 inches long, shiny and dark green on the upper surface and paler and smooth or slightly hairy on the lower surface. The leaves turn bright red in the autumn. Leafstalks are less than an inch long.
Flowers
The flowers occur in upright, flat-topped clusters of small, white flowers. Individual flowers are 1/4 inch or less in diameter, whereas the flower cluster is up to 4 inches wide. The flowers appear in April and May. 
Fruits
Fruits are shiny, bluish-black, ovoid, and occur on bright red stalks. They occur in September to October. Song and game birds, as well as a variety of small mammals and deer eat them.