Dynamic Trees — mod for adding dynamic growth and realistic tree physics in Minecraft

Dynamic Trees — mod for adding dynamic growth and realistic tree physics in Minecraft 

A regular tree in Minecraft is a static group of wood and leaves blocks that appears fully grown instantly. Dynamic Trees replaces this structure with a living multi-block object: a seed sprouts into a sapling, gradually grows a trunk and branches, and an adult tree falls when chopped at the base. The mod solves one task — to make trees and forests live over time, reacting to light, climate, and neighboring trees.

How a tree grows

Each species grows according to its own algorithm. Oak, spruce, birch, and jungle trees differ in the shape of their trunk and canopy, not just in texture. A tree stretches upwards, orienting itself by surrounding blocks. The growth rate and final size depend on the biome, temperature, and humidity — in its native climate, a tree grows larger and faster.

Light is mandatory: a tree does not grow in the dark. Leaves cut off from outer branches or deprived of light will die off, just like branches. If a tree ends up in a dark place, it dies completely.

Rooty dirt and fertility

The block under the tree provides nutrients and depletes over time. Bone meal increases its fertility and allows the tree to grow beyond its usual adult size. Potions can be applied to this same block (or the lowest trunk block) for various effects. The fertility level is read by a comparator, so the tree's state can be output to a redstone circuit.

The seed sprouts and the tree gradually grows from a sapling to its adult size

Chopping and falling trees

An axe strike at the base of the trunk fells the entire tree at once — there is no need to break each block separately. The amount of wood is calculated as the total volume of the trunk and branches, so a large tree drops more logs than a small one. The Fortune enchantment on an axe actually increases the amount of wood. 

An individual branch can be chopped without affecting the rest of the tree. Leaves grow back if the outer branches remain intact. Thin branches can be climbed like a ladder.

Axe durability cost depends on the config mode: fixed 1 per hit, by branch thickness, or by total tree volume. This is worth considering, because when chopping by volume, a large tree "eats" a lot of durability in one fell swoop.

The player chops the base of the trunk, after which the entire tree falls to the ground

Seeds and forest spread

Seeds take the place of vanilla saplings. They drop from trees randomly, and an adult tree can also drop a seed itself. If a seed lies on dirt, grass, or podzol in a forest biome with open sky above it, it has a chance to root on its own. Drop and self-planting chances are configurable.

When trees scatter seeds, the forest edge creeps outward. Trees planted close to each other compete for light: they grow taller and thinner, forming a continuous canopy. A dense canopy blocks skylight, and it gets dark underneath — mobs can spawn there even during the day, and new saplings die.

All dynamic tree seeds

Potions for trees

Potions are brewed on the basis of a Base Potion and work when applied to rooty dirt or the bottom block of the trunk. When the substance acts, effect particles pass throughout the entire tree.

A set of potions for trees 

Config

There are many parameters, so below are the ones that really affect the game. The rest (maxFallingTreeLeavesParticles, seedMinForestness, minSeasonalLeavesSeedDropRate, minSeasonalVoluntarySeedDropRate, treeHardnessMultiplier, dimensionsBlacklist, debug and others) — are fine-tuning of chances, particles, and hardness.

dynamictrees-server.toml

dynamictrees-common.toml

Conclusion

Dynamic Trees turns the forest into a living system over time: trees grow from seeds, compete for light, form a dark canopy with their own mobs and podzol, and chopping a single block fells the entire trunk yielding wood by volume. The mod is suitable for long survival playthroughs and wood farms where the natural dynamics of the forest are important; for quick speedruns where a tree needs to be chopped in seconds, the slow growth and falling will only get in the way.