Good crops can be expected every 2 to 3 years, with light crops during intervening years. A high percentage of mature seeds are sound, but high premature seed losses in butternut have been reported. Upon ripening, seeds are dispersed by gravity and by squirrels and other rodents. At this time, the seeds are dormant. Seedling Development Seeds of butternut usually germinate in the spring following seedfall.
Germination is hypogeal.
Seedlings develop a taproot on all sites except the most shallow soils, but the taproot is much less pronounced than on black walnut. In general, butternut seedlings have more fibrous root systems than black walnut. Vegetative Reproduction Stumps of young butternut trees and saplings are capable of sprouting. Also, butternut can be propagated by grafting, although the techniques have not yet been perfected. Sapling and Pole Stages to Maturity Growth and Yield Butternut grows fast, especially as a seedling, although it usually does not live longer than 75 years and is short lived in relation to its common tree associates.