Full text can be accessed at http://www.medwelljournals.com/abstract/?doi=brj.2008.82.88Dalbergia melanoxylon is one of the most expensive timbers in the world used for the manufacturing of musical instruments and decorative objects such as carvings. The effect of timing of seed collection and provenance on seed viability and germination were investigated. Percentages of germination capacity and germination energy were significantly higher for seeds collected 12 and 16 weeks after maturity. Seed viability was highest 59.8% at fruit maturity stage and significantly decreased to 25.7% for seeds collected 24 weeks after maturity. Significantly highest germination capacity 25.8% was obtained for seeds collected from Ubena provenance followed 20.5% for seeds collected from Mkundi provenance. Percentage of seed viability collected from Ubena was superior 57.56% to other provenances followed Mkundi provenance, which had 49.42%. Seed collection in D. melanoxylon should be done between 8-16 weeks after maturity from superior provenances to obtain seeds with high germination energy and germination capacity.