The Fast-Growing Tree You Won't Want In Your Yard If You Want To Keep Stink Bugs Away

If you're frustrated with rising energy bills, adding shade trees to your home's yard can help, but only if you choose carefully. You might make a mistake choosing one fast-growing tree that can draw in unexpected problems, such as stink bugs. The Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a vibrant tree for a spring landscape but it's also a favorite of the smelly insects, in particular, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). As a result, you could have an infestation on your hands if you plant this tree.

A deciduous tree native to the East, the Eastern redbud grows across most of the United States, with a range extending from New Jersey to as far west as Nevada. It's known as a rapid grower shooting up by 4 to 6 feet each year, plus is one of the first to bloom in the early spring. With its rich, colorful purple-red leaves, it adds an instant pop of color to your landscape, often attracting pollinators such as butterflies to the yard. Unfortunately, it can also entice less welcome insects such as the stink bug. Easily recognized by their brown, shield-shaped bodies, the pests can invade your tree just as easily as your home. The invasive species from Asia has a presence across 47 states, and will quickly make a meal out of numerous plants, often making a beeline straight for a blooming Eastern redbud.

Stink bugs are known for feeding on over 170 plants, including ornamental trees such as the Eastern redbud. These insects are especially attracted to trees with buds and flowering, making your redbud a prime target. Stink bugs feed with a proboscis, or beak, shaped like a straw, piercing and sucking out plant tissues' nutrients. They may also penetrate tree bark to extract sap from young trees. Outside of being a food source, the cool shade a redbud offers a major draw for stink bugs, especially during the hotter parts of the year.

The insects will lay their eggs in the trees beginning in the early summer, with the redbud serving as a nursery until the young stink bugs hatch four to five days later. They commonly lay 20-30 clutches of eggs, with up to five generations possible in warmer climates, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Without proper intervention, your tree will play host to dozens of stink bugs. To keep from an infestation from developing, look for signs of stink bug damage such as chewed leaves or stems. If you find these signs, address them quickly; the problem can quickly worsen, especially if stink bugs get in your home.