| General Description | A medium sized, somewhat columnar growing tree with glossy decorative leaves. |
| ID Characteristic | Small lustrous dark green leaves, almost entirely round in shape, with attractive smooth grey bark. |
| Shape | Somewhat columnar habit, narrow growing, spreading a little as the tree establishes more. |
| Landscape | Ideal for open areas such as cemeteries, parks, and large gardens. This specimen’s beautiful foliage and columnar shape makes it great for centrepieces in gardens. |
| Propagation | Propagation for this cultivar is done through grafting a scion onto a Fagus sylvatica seedling rootstock. Propagation for the straight species Fagus sylvatica is done by seeding. Collection of the seeds should occur in Autumn. Planting of the seeds should be done in summer. Stratify the seeds in soil at a temperature of 4.4 °C for 120 to 152 days. The ideal temperature for germination is 21 °C to 29 °C. Seeds should be covered with 1.27 cm of soil. Seeds planted in the fall should be covered with mulch and secured from rodents. Seed beds need half shade up until the middle of summer during the first year. |
| Cultivation | Grows in well-drained soils such as loamy and sandy soil, that is not too wet. It prefers a soil that is rich in humus content. It thrives best in full sun to partial shade, and prefers a soil pH from 6.1 to 7.8. This specimen does not do well in an urban setting such as paved and concrete areas. |
| Pests | There is no recorded pest or disease to this specific cultivar, however, there isn't enough information to say it is disease tolerant. The straight species Fagus sylvatica is susceptible to Birch Bark Disease. This disease is an insect-fungus complex. The non-native beech bark insect will feed on the beech bark which will lead to cracks and openings. This will allow for canker fungi to enter into the bark, and will lead to decay in the tree. |
| Notable Specimens | According to Michael Dirr (The Manual of Woody Landscape Plants) , this cultivar is very rare and has been seen only once at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. Often mistaken for the similar cultivar ‘Rotundifolia’ which make this tree somewhat difficult to identify. Holden Arboretum received three grafted plants of the cultivar ‘Cockleshell’ from Girard Nurseries in 1982. All three specimens were planted in a remote section of the Arboretum called Baldwin Acres. This was done due to the better soil drainage of that area compared to the rest of the Arboretum. On April 4, 1985 one was noted dead. In August 1990 one was not found, and the last one remains standing at 9 m and 7 m wide. This last tree did not have the characteristics of the cultivar ‘Cockelshell’ as described by Hillier's Manual of Trees and Shrubs, which led to the misidentification of the tree. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Soft, smooth, grey bark. As the tree matures the bark begins to develop an “elephant hide appearance”. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | The buds on the straight species Fagus sylvatica have imbricate scales that are conical in shape measuring at 1.9 to 2.54 cm long. The ends of the bud are sharp-pointed. The colour is light brown. |
| Leaf Description | 1.5 cm to 4 cm alternating glossy green leaves that turn into a spectacular bronze yellow colour in autumn. Ovate/orbicular shape, with pinnate venation. The leafs will stay on the tree until late fall. Younger trees will sometimes hold on throughout the winter because of their frost tolerance. |
| Flower Description | The flowers on the straight species Fagus sylvatica are monoecious, the male and female are on the same tree, but are separate. The Male is in globose heads. Pistillate in 2-4 flowered spikes. |
| Fruit Description | The fruit of the straight species Fagus sylvatica are triangular nuts, 1.5 cm in length inside of a woody 4 lobed husk covered with spines, attached to an erect pedicel. |
| Colour Description | This cultivar provides stunning colours all year round, with glossy green leaves that turn into a dark green in the summer, and then transitioning into a yellow bronze colour in autumn that will last long into the winter. The smooth grey bark is very attractive with the combine glossy green leaves. |
| Texture Description | Fine glossy leaves. |