Dry the fruit at room temperature until the capsules split open, then remove the shiny, dark brown seeds. Plant the seed in the fall or stratify the seed and plant in the spring. Seed should be planted 1 to 2 inches deep. Remove the husks by hand. Sow the seed in the fall or plant stratified seed in the spring.
Air dry the pods, then remove the seed.
Seed of the redbud have hard, impermeable seed coats in addition to dormant embryos. Seed require both scarification and cold stratification before they will germinate. Redbud seed can be scarified by soaking seed in concentrated sulfuric acid for 30 minutes or by submerging seed in boiling water for one minute. Remove the seed by hand. The seed of Kentucky coffeetree have hard, thick seed coats.