I think it will be easier to build a tree if I can recreate its environment (eg gravity, growth characteristics).  With joints and beams, I can mimic the brittle-ness / flexibility of branches.

I’m aiming to make a Christmas Tree by Christmas. Here is my first experiment:

The algorithm starts at the base. Each branch is drawn by a random x and y (although y is always minus). There is a 20% chance a new branch will spawn and a 10% chance the branch will die. The max depth has been set to 20.

Not quite what I was after, interesting bush nevertheless.