Local Man Discovers New Variety of Black Gum Tree – “Sheri’s Cloud”

BY MELANIE BUCK –

Mena resident Jeff Flanigan is responsible for finding a new variety of a Black Gum tree that has now become a popular breed, Nyssa Sylvatica, known as ‘Sheri’s Cloud.’ Flanigan, who used to work for Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, spent every morning and evening driving up, and down, Rich Mountain. In 2002, he noticed an odd looking Black Gum tree, one like he’d never seen before.

“I found it in a ditch up on the mountain. I didn’t really pay too much attention but the more I kept driving by there, I thought maybe it was diseased or something,” explained Flanigan. After stopping to inspect the tree, he noticed it seemed healthy and the white markings were consistent. Flanigan began researching and realized that it had apparently not been discovered before.

Flanigan took pictures of the tree and sent them to Larry Lowman, “the go-to guy when it comes to wild plant identification in the eastern U.S.” Lowman sent the pictures to Don Shadow, a world-class nurseryman of Shadow Nursery, in central Tennessee.

Flanigan was instructed on how to properly prepare ‘scions,’ or cuttings, to Shadow for further identification. Although not a new ‘species,’ it is a new ‘variety,’ a variegated variety, meaning it has cream-colored tips on its leaves and is slightly lighter green than the normal Black Gum. It is considered somewhat of a natural mutation.

The tree can’t just be planted to grow another, it must be grafted, a process that takes expert knowledge and an abundance of patience. Flanigan left this process up to Shadow, who has extensive knowledge in the technique. Shadow has proved successful and has grown and sold many of the new variety. From the original scions, Shadow was able to produce more than 60 trees.

Shadow did leave the naming of the new variety up to Flanigan. Sheri’s Cloud was chosen in honor of his late wife, Sheri, and Cloud was added because he imagined a mature tree would look like a cloud. “You know how people name stars after people, I thought it would be neat to name a tree after Sheri,” said Flanigan.

Although the original tree is no longer standing, Sheri’s Cloud can now be found in nurseries across the United States, from Tennessee to Oregon. A very passionate Flanigan admitted, “I was interested in what was going on with the tree but I wasn’t really thinking it was going to be much of a big deal. Then, in 2004, Larry Lowman asked me to attend the American Plant Society Meeting in Fort Smith. I went and didn’t realize he was going to showcase new varieties. He saved mine for last and did a big announcement. He broke the news at that meeting and that was when I first thought that this might actually be something.”

The Delaware Center for Horticulture has featured Sheri’s Cloud in their annual rare plant auction and botanical gardens have also begun to feature the tree. “It’s popular with arboretums because it’s a nice shade tree and it looks different,” said Flanigan. One of his proudest moments was when he discovered that in 2013, the Oregon Association of Nurseries, who holds the largest expo in North America called the Far West Show, attracting visitors from not only the U.S. but international guests as well, held a contest. Sheri’s Cloud was submitted by Heritage Seedlings of Salem, Oregon, and it received 2nd place for ‘Plant of Merit,’ a high honor among nurseries.

If you are interested in buying Sheri’s Cloud, you can search online and choose from a number of nurseries who feature the popular variety.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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