Learn

The Grove provides great results in minutes - simply start with a preset and you're good to go. Then, when you're ready, it's time to learn how real trees grow.

Simulation files

Simulations are saved in the working file, so that you can continue to grow at any time.

Core and add-ons

The simulation runs in the core module, which has no UI. The add-ons create the interactive experience.

Da Vinci’s rule of trees

Does this 500-year-old observation still hold ground?

Install

Guide to install the add-on in Blender and where to put twigs and textures.

Quick start

A brief overview of how to grow your first trees, and how to shape them.

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to the most common questions.

How to use twigs

Twigs are small branches that use regular 3D geometry to represent leaves, flowers and fruit. You can model them to any level of detail, or purchase The Grove’s handmade twigs to get stunning results quickly.

Shade , drop and prune

As trees grow up, toward the sky, they compete with their neighbours that take away light. But the biggest competition is the very tree itself, where new leaves above shade the old underneath.

Animate growth and wind

The mesmerizing spectacle of branches dancing in the wind really brings trees to life.

Thicken and bend

Watch heavy branches bend under the weight they carry. The continuous interplay of growth and gravity is what creates some of the most beautiful tree shapes.

Favor

Favor bright over dark, and rising over dangling. Grow free to the sides, or first grow in length.

Grow

Let nature take its course and watch trees develop into beautiful shapes. Mimic any tree’s character with intuitive parameters taken straight from the woods.

Turn

While a branch is growing in length, it is searching for the best direction to grow in. There are several outside influences that cause a branch to turn to a certain direction.

React

Assign a mesh object to attract, deflect or stop and prune new growth, or to simply cast shade on the growing tree.

Build

The Grove builds high quality 3D models that are lightweight to render, thanks to its smart polygon reduction and a unique system of twigs.

How trees grow

Even though trees surround us everywhere, there are many misunderstandings about how they grow. Studying the way a real tree grows reveals surprising mechanisms that together evolve these complex plants.

The golden angle in trees

The mysterious golden angle can be found in everything from sea shells to roman architecture, and trees are no exception.