6 years ago I bought a 6-foot Amelanchier x lamarkkii at Russell's Nursery, and planted it in one of the most prominent spots in my front garden. It did okay the first year and had great berries (yummy), but then it got rust the 2nd year and it got worse every year after that. The berries shriveled up and it was supposed to have nice fall color but I never saw it, because the foliage was in terrible shape (what was left of it) by fall.

There is a large Cedar tree in my front yard, and several others in back so I suspect that was the source of the rust. I tried organic fungicide, but it was not effective (could have been my application?). Anyway, I don't like having to spray to maintain a plant.

This Spring, I put the now 12-foot tree on Craigslist for free. Two nice ladies came and dug it up and took it away. Went and bought a 7 foot Cornus florida 'Cherokee Brave' and planted it where the Serviceberry used to be. Love it!

I had a pair of Amelanchier trees and they performed horribly in my garden. Winter moths seemed to be very attracted to them and they were stripped every year. I pulled them both out about 2 years ago. Didn't notice whether they had rust or not. I had a Cornus planted nearby and as that has gotten larger, I haven't missed them. I have the Rutger's hybrid 'Celestial' which we really enjoy too.

I'm on the cape and also had to remove an amelanchier a few years ago because it was so sickly; rust and other foliage problems, plus insect damage. We've got a lot of cedars (Juniperus virginiana, I think) in my neighborhood.

Your experience might be very different, depending on what else grows nearby.