Osteomeles anthyllidifolia is easy to propagate from fully mature seeds. The seeds should be removed from the white outer pulp. Lilleeng-Rosenberger suggests ripening the fruit in a plastic bag to soften the pulp. After this, the seeds can be removed from the pulp more easily. This can be done by rubbing the fruits in a strainer under running water, or by manually crushing the fruits in a bowl of water to separate the seeds from the pulp. Pour off the lighter fruit pieces and any seeds that float. Wash the remaining seeds thoroughly. At this point they can be dried on a paper towel for planting or storing.

Bornhorst says that soaking the seeds in water for 1 or 2 days will enhance germination. Boche recommends soaking the seeds for 3 to 7 days. Sow the seeds on the top of a well-drained, porous mix such as 1 part potting soil to 1 part perlite or cinder. Seeds germinate in 2 to 6 months.

In his germination studies, Obata found that untreated seeds of Osteomeles anthyllidifolia had germination rates ranging from 5 to 30%. Yoshinaga found that seeds of Osteomeles anthyllidifolia lose viability after a year of being stored at room temperature and ambient humidity. However, seeds had good viability after being stored for the same length of time at 39 degrees F (normal refrigerator temperature) and relative humidity of 10% or less. This low humidity can be obtained using silica gel in an airtight container. (Boche 1994; Bornhorst 1996; Criley 1998; Criley 1999; Lilleeng-Rosenberger 1998; NTBG 1992; Obata 1967; Wagner 1990; Yoshinaga 1998)

Criley found that 67% of firm tip cuttings rooted eight weeks after being treated with 6,000 parts per million (ppm) of the rooting hormone IBA. These cuttings were grown under an intermittent mist system which ran for 6 to 8 seconds every 5 or 6 minutes using 30% shade cloth. (Boche 1994; Bornhorst 1996; Criley 1998; Criley 1999; NTBG 1992)

Bornhorst, Heidi L. 1996. Growing native Hawaiian plants: a how-to guide for the gardener. Honolulu: The Bess Press. p. 31-32.

Criley, Richard A. 1998. Propagation of indigenous and endemic ornamental Hawaiian plants. Combined Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators' Society 48:669-674.

Criley, Richard A. 1999. Aloha Hawai'i. American Nurseryman 190 (3):50-61.

Lilleeng-Rosenberger, Kerin. 1998. Propagation techniques for native Hawaiian plants. Newsletter of the Hawaiian Botanical Society 37 (2):33-35.

Moriarty, Dan. 1975. Native Hawaiian plants for tropical seaside landscaping. The Bulletin of the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden 5 (3):41-48.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). 1992. 'Ulei. In Native Hawaiian plant information sheets. Lawai, Kauai: Hawaii Plant Conservation Center. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Unpublished internal papers.

Obata, John K. 1967. Seed germination in native Hawaiian plants. Newsletter of the Hawaiian Botanical Society 6 (3):13-20.

Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. 2 vols., Bishop Museum Special Publication 83. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press. p. 1104-1105.

Yoshinaga, Alvin. 1998. Storing seeds of some natiave rain forest plants: some simple methods. Newsletter of the Hawaiian Botanical Society 37 (2):28-32.