AO Studio Tools

ZenGrove

Grow a plant, one node at a time.

Overview

Grow a plant, one node at a time.

Explore all 45 ZenGrove nodes for Maya with illustrated settings. Shape Cross Section profiles, create multi-way Splits, find properties and build procedural plants.

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Branch

Adds a new layer of branches to the incoming stems. Choose how many appear, where they appear and how their angle, length and thickness vary along the parent.

Reference updated for ZenGrove 1.0.0-beta.2.

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Branches

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Branches

Count, distribution and scale work together

Count Variation varies the number of children per parent. Distribution Profile moves attachment sites toward higher-density regions within Start/End while preserving the chosen count and pairs or whorls. Scale Profile multiplies both child length and radius at each attachment position. Flat defaults preserve the usual result.

Profile positions run from the parent base (0) to its tip (1). Scale Profile combines with Scale and Twig Start/End Scale; Length Profile separately adjusts length. In Bézier mode, Alt-drag unlinks tangents and Shift-drag links them again.

Generation

Branch node with its generation settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Generation · Open image for full size
Count per Parent

Sets new growth per parent. Random, Parallel and Alternating count individual children. Opposite counts sites with two children each; Whorled counts sites with Whorl Count children each. Count 8 and Whorl Count 3 produce 24 children before any split-range allocation.

Default: 8

Count Variation

Adds seeded variation to Count per Parent, from minus to plus this amount, with a minimum result of zero. Opposite varies pairs and Whorled varies whorls. Existing Split allocation still applies.

Default: 0

Distribution

Branch node with its distribution settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Distribution · Open image for full size
Distribution Range — Start %

Sets where placement begins on the parent. Zero is the base and one is the tip; the range slider displays percentages.

Default: 0.18

Distribution Range — End %

Sets where placement ends. Together with Start, this defines the Distribution Range.

Default: 0.92

Distribution Profile

Sets relative spawn density along the parent, from base (0) to tip (1), within Start/End. Higher regions attract more attachment sites without changing the chosen count or breaking pairs and whorls. Flat and all-zero profiles keep the ordinary placement.

Default: See curve in image

Placement Pattern

Random distributes freely. Parallel pairs a total child count. Alternating switches sides along the parent. Opposite creates two children per site. Whorled creates a ring of children per site.

Options: Random · Parallel · Alternating · Opposite · Whorled

Default: Random

Pattern Space

Ground aligns the pattern to the horizontal world plane. Parent turns it with the branch. Opposite and Whorled always follow the parent.

Available when Placement Pattern is Random or Parallel or Alternating.

Options: Ground · Parent

Default: Ground

Pattern Rotation

Rotates the whole arrangement around the parent without choosing new random positions.

Default: 0

Rotate Pattern

Rotates each successive site around the parent. With Opposite, zero aligns pairs and 90 degrees crosses each pair over the previous one.

Default: 137.5

Position Jitter

Loosens spacing along the parent while keeping paired sites together.

Default: 0.18

Orientation

Branch node with its orientation settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Orientation · Open image for full size
Angle

Sets the angle away from the parent direction. Small values follow it; larger values open the growth outward.

Default: 43

Angle Profile

Multiplies Angle by attachment position on the parent: left is base and right is tip. One keeps the angle, lower values close it and higher values open it.

Default: See curve in image

Angle Randomness

Varies the angle between branches or leaves. Zero keeps it consistent.

Default: 12

Up Influence

Biases the growing direction upward. Negative values bias it downward.

Default: 0.12

Shape

Branch node with its shape settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Shape · Open image for full size
Length

Sets child length relative to parent length. For example, 0.5 starts at half the parent length, before profiles and randomness.

Default: 0.58

Length Profile

Multiplies child length by its attachment position. Left is the parent base and right is its tip. One keeps Length; 0.5 halves it.

Default: See curve in image

Length Randomness

Varies length between branches. Zero keeps lengths consistent.

Default: 0.2

Radius Ratio

Sets child base radius relative to parent radius at the attachment.

Default: 0.46

Tip Radius %

Sets tip radius as a fraction of child base radius. For example, 0.08 leaves 8% at the tip.

Default: 0.08

Junction Blend

Softens the change in direction and thickness at the parent connection. Zero makes a harder junction.

Default: 0.65

Deformation

Branch node with its deformation settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Deformation · Open image for full size
Shape Sag

Adds sag to the new branch shape. Positive droops; negative lifts.

Default: 0.08

Path Noise

Adds small irregular bends to the generated path.

Default: 0.035

Scale

Branch node with its scale settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Scale · Open image for full size
Scale

Scales the asset or generated child uniformly. One keeps its size; 0.5 halves it.

Default: 1

Scale Profile

Multiplies child length and radius at each attachment position along the parent. It combines with Scale and, for Twigs, Start/End Scale. A flat value of 1 preserves those settings. Length Profile separately affects length; geometry safety minima still apply.

Default: See curve in image

Geometry

Branch node with its geometry settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Geometry · Open image for full size
Radial Segments

Sets sides around the branch tube. More sides look rounder. Where zero is available, it inherits Output.

Default: 0

Length Spans

Sets spans along the branch. More spans allow smoother bends and add geometry.

Default: 7

Advanced

Branch node with its advanced settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Advanced · Open image for full size
Seed Offset

Changes this node's random variation. Keep the seed and settings unchanged to reproduce the same result.

Default: 10

Distribution

Shown example: Placement Pattern = Whorled.

Branch node with its distribution settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Distribution · Open image for full size
Distribution Range — Start %

Sets where placement begins on the parent. Zero is the base and one is the tip; the range slider displays percentages.

Default: 0.18

Distribution Range — End %

Sets where placement ends. Together with Start, this defines the Distribution Range.

Default: 0.92

Distribution Profile

Sets relative spawn density along the parent, from base (0) to tip (1), within Start/End. Higher regions attract more attachment sites without changing the chosen count or breaking pairs and whorls. Flat and all-zero profiles keep the ordinary placement.

Default: See curve in image

Placement Pattern

Random distributes freely. Parallel pairs a total child count. Alternating switches sides along the parent. Opposite creates two children per site. Whorled creates a ring of children per site.

Options: Random · Parallel · Alternating · Opposite · Whorled

Default: Random

Whorl Count

Sets children per site in Whorled mode. Opposite always uses two.

Available when Placement Pattern is Whorled.

Default: 3

Pattern Rotation

Rotates the whole arrangement around the parent without choosing new random positions.

Default: 0

Rotate Pattern

Rotates each successive site around the parent. With Opposite, zero aligns pairs and 90 degrees crosses each pair over the previous one.

Default: 137.5

Position Jitter

Loosens spacing along the parent while keeping paired sites together.

Default: 0.18

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FAQ
What is ZenGrove used for?

Explore all 45 ZenGrove nodes for Maya with illustrated settings. Shape Cross Section profiles, create multi-way Splits, find properties and build procedural plants.

Which host application does ZenGrove support?

ZenGrove is built for Autodesk Maya and is distributed through AO Studio Tools.

Where can I download ZenGrove?

Download the current AO Studio Tools package from https://aostudio.tools/getthetools.html and install it through AO.Hub.