The hard dark-brown to black follicle splits open in late fall to release the one or two seeds it contains but remains on the tree up to 1 year after opening. Trees near San Jose in California have been observed to flower, fruit, and seed at times similar to those in Hawaii. Because of their relatively large wing, the lightweight seeds are widely disseminated by wind. Possibly because seedfall coincides with the onset of winter rains in dry leeward rangeland in Hawaii, regeneration is most prolific on these sites. Germination of fresh, unstratified seeds requires about 20 days.
Germination is epigeal.
Seedlings are grown in flats or containers in nurseries. Methods vary among the countries where silkoak is grown. As far as is known, vegetative propagation has not been practiced with the species. Where subjected to drought stress sufficiently severe to cause dieback, it forms forks and multiple leaders. This indicates that the tree is fast growing as a sapling and pole.