How can we draw a Christmas tree with decorations, using TikZ?

Question

I would like to use TikZ for drawing a christmas tree. Here's a start, I used the lindenmayersystems library for drawing a tree:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{lindenmayersystems}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=green!50!black, l-system={rule set={S -> [+++G][---G]TS,
  G -> +H[-G]L, H -> -G[+H]L, T -> TL, L -> [-FFF][+FFF]F}, step=4pt, angle=18,
 axiom=+++++SLFFF, order=11}] lindenmayer system -- cycle;
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

I found the tree in "The Science of fractal images" by Peitgen and Saupe.

Who can help to decorate it? Or to draw another tree with Christmas decorations, such as tinsel garland (lametta), candles, baubles (Christmas balls), a tree topper? Perhaps add a shading to the green?

For celebrating Christmas, I would like to put the tree on our blog, and on the TikZ example gallery.

Answer 1

Merry Christmas everyone!

\documentclass[11pt]{scrartcl} 
\usepackage[dvipsnames,svgnames]{xcolor}  
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes,decorations.shapes}
\newsavebox{\mycandle}
\savebox{\mycandle}{ 
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=.1]
\shade[top color=yellow,bottom color=red] (0,0) .. controls (1,.2) and (1,.5) .. (0,2) .. controls (-1,.5)  and  (-1,.2) .. (0,0);
\fill[yellow!90!black] (.8,0) rectangle (-.8,-5); 
\end{tikzpicture} } 

\tikzset{
  paint/.style={draw=#1!50!black, fill=#1!50},
  my star/.style={decorate,decoration={shape backgrounds,shape=star},
                  star points=#1}
}  

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture} 
   \draw[fill=Maroon,ultra thick] 
   (.75,-1)  ..  controls (.5,.5)  and   (.5,3)    .. (0.5,4) 
-- (-0.5,4)  ..  controls (-.5,3) and (-.5,.5)     .. (-.75,-1) ;
\draw[ultra thick,fill=green!50!black] 
      (0,10) .. controls  (0,8)     and   (1,7)    .. (1.5,7) 
             ..  controls (1,7)     and   (1,7)    .. (0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls (1.5,5)   and   (2.5,4)  .. (3,4)
             ..  controls (2,4)     and   (1.25,4) .. (1,4.5)
             ..  controls (2,2)     and   (3.5,2)  .. (4,2)
             ..  controls (1,1)     and   (-1,1)   .. (-4,2) 
             ..  controls (-3.5,2)  and   (-2,2)   .. (-1,4.5)
             ..  controls (-1.25,4) and   (-2,4)   .. (-3,4) 
             ..  controls (-2.5,4)  and   (-1.5,5) .. (-0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (-1,7)   .. (-1.5,7)
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (0,8)    .. (0,10)
              ;
\foreach \candle in {(2,5),(-2,5),(0.5,7.5),(-0.5,7.5),(-3,2.5), (3,2.5),
                    (1.5,1.75),(-1.5,1.75)}
\node at \candle {\usebox{\mycandle}} ; 
 \node [star, star point height=.5cm, minimum size=.5cm, draw,fill=yellow,thick]
       at (0,10) {};
       \begin{scope}[decoration={shape sep=.2cm, shape size=.25cm}] 
    \draw [my star=6, paint=red]  (-4,2)
             ..  controls (0,2)     and   (1,3.5)   .. (1,4.5)
             ..  controls (1,6)     and   (0.5,6)      .. (0.5,7.25); 
    \draw [my star=6, paint=blue]  (4,2)
             ..  controls  (0,2) and (-1,3.5)      .. (-1,4.5)             
             ..  controls (-1,6)     and   (-0.5,6)      .. (-0.5,7.25);    
       \end{scope}  
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document} 

Update version 2 : The snow arrives, I added some balls and a shade on the tree

\documentclass[11pt]{scrartcl} 
\usepackage[dvipsnames,svgnames]{xcolor}  
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{%
  shapes,
  decorations.shapes,
  decorations.fractals,
  decorations.markings,
  shadows
}

\newsavebox{\mycandle}
\savebox{\mycandle}{ 
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=.1]
\shade[top color=yellow,bottom color=red] (0,0) .. controls (1,.2) and (1,.5) .. (0,2) .. controls (-1,.5)  and  (-1,.2) .. (0,0);
\fill[yellow!90!black] (.8,0) rectangle (-.8,-5); 
\end{tikzpicture} } 

\tikzset{
  paint/.style={draw=#1!50!black, fill=#1!50},
  my star/.style={decorate,decoration={shape backgrounds,shape=star},
                  star points=#1}
}  

\begin{document}
  \begin{tikzpicture}[  ball red/.style={
    decorate,
    decoration={
      markings,
      mark=between positions .2 and 1 step 3cm
      with
      {
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\sz}{2 + .5 * rand}
        \path[shading=ball,ball color=red] (0,0) circle[radius=\sz mm];
      }
    }
  } ,ball blue/.style={
    decorate,
    decoration={
      markings,
      mark=between positions 0.1 and .9 step 3cm
      with
      {
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\sz}{2 + .5 * rand}
        \path[shading=ball,ball color=blue] (0,0) circle[radius=\sz mm];
      }
    }
  }   
]

\draw[fill=Maroon,ultra thick] 
      (.75,-1)  ..  controls (.5,.5)  and   (.5,3)    .. (0.5,4) 
   -- (-0.5,4)  ..  controls (-.5,3) and (-.5,.5)     .. (-.75,-1) ;
\shade[ultra thick, top color=green!90!black,bottom color=green!10!black] 
      (0,10) .. controls  (0,8)     and   (1,7)    .. (1.5,7) 
             ..  controls (1,7)     and   (1,7)    .. (0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls (1.5,5)   and   (2.5,4)  .. (3,4)
             ..  controls (2,4)     and   (1.25,4) .. (1,4.5)
             ..  controls (2,2)     and   (3.5,2)  .. (4,2)
             ..  controls (1,1)     and   (-1,1)   .. (-4,2) 
             ..  controls (-3.5,2)  and   (-2,2)   .. (-1,4.5)
             ..  controls (-1.25,4) and   (-2,4)   .. (-3,4) 
             ..  controls (-2.5,4)  and   (-1.5,5) .. (-0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (-1,7)   .. (-1.5,7)
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (0,8)    .. (0,10)
              ;

\foreach \candle in {(2,5),(-2,5),(0.5,7.5),(-0.5,7.5),(-3,2.5), (3,2.5),
                    (1.5,1.75),(-1.5,1.75)}
\node at \candle {\usebox{\mycandle}} ; 
\node [star, star point height=.5cm, minimum size=.5cm,draw,fill=yellow,thick]
      at (0,10) {};
\begin{scope}[decoration={shape sep=.2cm, shape size=.25cm}] 
    \draw [my star=6, paint=red]  (-4,2)
             ..  controls (0,2)     and   (1,3.5)   .. (1,4.40); 
    \draw [my star=6, paint=red]  (-1.5,5.40)
             ..  controls (0,5.40)     and   (0.5,6.5)      .. (0.5,7);  
    \draw [my star=6, paint=blue]  (4,2)
             ..  controls  (0,2) and (-1,3.5)      .. (-1,4.40);             
    \draw [my star=6, paint=blue]  (1.5,5.40)
             ..  controls (0,5.40)     and   (-0.5,6.5)      .. (-0.5,7);     
\end{scope} 
% the balls
\path[ball red] 
      (0,10) .. controls  (0,8)     and   (1,7)    .. (1.5,7) 
             ..  controls (1,7)     and   (1,7)    .. (0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls (1.5,5)   and   (2.5,4)  .. (3,4)
             ..  controls (2,4)     and   (1.25,4) .. (1,4.5)
             ..  controls (2,2)     and   (3.5,2)  .. (4,2)
             ..  controls (1,1)     and   (-1,1)   .. (-4,2) 
             ..  controls (-3.5,2)  and   (-2,2)   .. (-1,4.5)
             ..  controls (-1.25,4) and   (-2,4)   .. (-3,4) 
             ..  controls (-2.5,4)  and   (-1.5,5) .. (-0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (-1,7)   .. (-1.5,7)
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (0,8)    .. (0,10)
              ; 
\path[ball blue] 
      (0,10) .. controls  (0,8)     and   (1,7)    .. (1.5,7) 
             ..  controls (1,7)     and   (1,7)    .. (0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls (1.5,5)   and   (2.5,4)  .. (3,4)
             ..  controls (2,4)     and   (1.25,4) .. (1,4.5)
             ..  controls (2,2)     and   (3.5,2)  .. (4,2)
             ..  controls (1,1)     and   (-1,1)   .. (-4,2) 
             ..  controls (-3.5,2)  and   (-2,2)   .. (-1,4.5)
             ..  controls (-1.25,4) and   (-2,4)   .. (-3,4) 
             ..  controls (-2.5,4)  and   (-1.5,5) .. (-0.5,7.25) 
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (-1,7)   .. (-1.5,7)
             ..  controls  (-1,7)   and   (0,8)    .. (0,10)
              ; 
 % the snow
\foreach \i in {0.5,0.6,...,1.6}
     \fill [white!80!blue,decoration=Koch snowflake,opacity=.9]
           [shift={(rand*5,rnd*8)},scale=\i]
           [double copy shadow={opacity=0.2,shadow xshift=0pt,
           shadow yshift=3*\i pt,fill=white,draw=none}]
        decorate {
          decorate {
            decorate {
              (0,0) -- ++(60:1) -- ++(-60:1) -- cycle
            }
          }
        };                  
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document} 

Answer 2

Just in case the code isn't clear from behind the picture, here it is in full:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{listings}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{%
  lindenmayersystems,
  decorations.pathmorphing,
  decorations.markings,
  shapes.geometric,
  calc%
}
\tikzset{
  tinsel/.style={
    #1,
    rounded corners=10mm,
    ultra thin,
    decorate,
    decoration={
      snake,
      amplitude=.1mm,
      segment length=10,
    }
  },
  baubles/.style={
    decorate,
    decoration={
      markings,
      mark=between positions .3 and 1 step 2cm
      with
      {
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\brad}{2 + .5 * rand}
        \path[shading=ball,ball color=#1] (0,0) circle[radius=\brad mm];
      }
    }
  },
  lights/.style={
    decorate,
    decoration={
      markings,
      mark=between positions 0 and 1 step 1cm
      with
      {
        \pgfmathparse{rand > 0 ? "dart" : "kite"}
        \let\lshape\pgfmathresult
         \pgfmathsetmacro{\tint}{100*rnd}
        \node[rotate=90,\lshape,shading=ball,inner sep=1pt,ball color=red!\tint!yellow] {};
      }
    }
  }
}

\begin{document}
\begin{center}
\tikz[remember picture,overlay] \coordinate (star) at (0,-1);
\end{center}

\lstinputlisting[
  breaklines=true,
  language=TeX,
  basicstyle=\tiny,
  firstline=63,
  lastline=103]{\jobname.tex}

\begin{tikzpicture}[overlay,remember picture]
\path (star) +(-50:7) coordinate (rhs) +(-130:7) coordinate (lhs);
\draw[brown!50!black,line width=5mm,line cap=round] (star) ++(-90:6.8) -- ++(0,-1) coordinate (base);
\node[scale=-1,trapezium,fill=black,minimum size=1cm] at (base) {};
\foreach \height/\colour in {%
  .2/blue,
  .4/yellow,
  .6/red,
  .8/orange,
  1/pink%
} {
  \draw[tinsel=\colour] ($(star)!\height!(lhs)$) to[bend right] ($(star)!\height!(rhs)$);
}
\path (star);
\pgfgetlastxy{\starx}{\stary}
\begin{scope}[xshift=\starx,yshift=\stary,yshift=-7cm]
\draw[color=green!50!black, l-system={rule set={S -> [+++G][---G]TS,  G -> +H[-G]L, H -> -G[+H]L, T -> TL, L -> [-FFF][+FFF]F}, step=4pt, angle=18, axiom=+++++SLFFF, order=11}] lindenmayer system -- cycle;
\end{scope}
\foreach \height/\colour in {%
  .1/pink,
  .3/red,
  .5/yellow,
  .7/blue,
  .9/orange%
} {
  \draw[tinsel=\colour] ($(star)!\height!(lhs)$) to[bend right] ($(star)!\height!(rhs)$);
}
\foreach \height in {.15,.35,...,1} {
  \draw[lights]  ($(star)!\height!(lhs)$) to[bend right] ($(star)!\height!(rhs)$);
}
\foreach \angle/\colour in {
  -50/red,
  -70/yellow,
  -90/blue,
  -110/pink,
  -130/purple%
} {
  \draw[baubles=\colour] (star) -- ++(\angle:7);
}
\node[star,star point ratio=2.5,fill=yellow,minimum size=1cm] at (star) {};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Answer 3

Another tree that can be decorated:

Merry Christmas, everybody!

\documentclass[border=5mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{pgfplots}

\begin{document}
%
\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{axis}[
    hide axis, clip=false,
    y domain=0:2*pi,
    samples=30,axis equal, view={45}{20}]

\addplot3 [domain=0:4,surf,shader=flat,z buffer=sort,fill=green!50!brown, draw=green!50!black, line join=bevel] 
    ({(1.3*x-floor(x))*x^0.5*cos(deg(y))},
     {(1.3*x-floor(x))*x^0.5*sin(deg(y))},
     {-5*x});

\addplot3 [domain=0:4.5, samples=10, samples y=0, fill=yellow!85!red, draw=yellow!55!red] ({0},{sin(x/5*360) * (1 - x + floor(x)) },{cos(x/5*360) * (1 - x + floor(x) )  + 0.5}) -- cycle;
\end{axis}
\end{tikzpicture}%
%
\end{document}

Answer 4

Here's mine:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{scopes,svg.path,shapes.geometric,shadows}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[
  mystar/.style={star, minimum size=2cm, star point ratio=2.5, shade, thick,
    line join=round, color=yellow!80!black, draw=red!20!black,
    top color=yellow!80!white, bottom color=yellow!60!black},
  mytree/.style={scale=0.5, rotate=180, draw=green!60!black, thick,
    line join=round, inner color=green!60!yellow, outer color=green!50!black},
  myball/.style={shade, ball color=#1, circular drop shadow={
    shadow xshift=0pt, shadow yshift=-.5ex, fill=green!40!black}}
  ]
  {[mytree]
  \shadedraw svg "M355,430
    q90,10 105,-85 30,0 50,-30 20,30 50,30 50,-20 100,0 10,88 105,85
    -45,90 -205,25 Q400,520 355,430";
  \shadedraw svg "M380,325
    q83,10 105,-80 25,0 35,-30 20,25 40,30 20,-10 35,-25 20,20 40,25
    25,90 105,82 -15,50 -120,15 -30,-2 -60,12 -30,0 -52,-28
    C490,370 380,360 380,325";
  \shadedraw svg "M435,225
    q65,-8 90,-70 35,40 70,0 25,60 90,70 -30,52 -90,5 -36,48 -73,-3
    C520,254 445,265 435,225";
  \shadedraw svg "M470,139
    q50,5 90,-80 50,90 90,80 -30,30 -50,20 -40,45 -78,0
    Q500,170 470,139";
  }
  %\shadedraw svg[scale=0.5,rotate=180]
  %"M460,532 q50,-8 q77,-45 v-20 a20,13 0 1 1 48,0 v20 q30,40 77,45";
  %pgf/tikz doesn't like the arc operation, as stated in manual

  \node[mystar] at (-9.85,-1) {$\lambda$};

  \shade[myball=blue]   (-9.7,-2.2)   circle (.2cm);
  \shade[myball=red]    (-9.2,-3.8)   circle (.2cm);
  \shade[myball=green]  (-10.3,-4)    circle (.4cm);
  \shade[myball=yellow] (-8.95,-5.4)  circle (.4cm);
  \shade[myball=red]    (-10.7,-6.1)  circle (.4cm);
  \shade[myball=blue]   (-10.8,-5)    circle (.2cm);
  \shade[myball=yellow] (-9.5,-6.7)   circle (.2cm);
  \shade[myball=green]  (-8.3,-7.6)   circle (.4cm);
  \shade[myball=yellow] (-11.7,-7.6)  circle (.4cm);
  \shade[myball=blue]   (-10.5,-7.8)  circle (.2cm);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

which looks like:

Merry Christmas!

Answer 5

I have learned a couple of new things in TikZ and created an own minimalistic version loosely based on Altermundus' first creation (and a beautiful one it is). Hopefully he does not mind. Merry Christmas to all of you!

\documentclass[border=2mm]{standalone}
\usepackage[dvipsnames]{xcolor}  
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes,decorations.shapes}
\newsavebox{\ball}
\savebox{\ball}{ 
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=.1]
\draw (0,0) -- (0, 5);
\shadedraw[ball color=red] (0,0) circle (60pt);
\end{tikzpicture}
} 
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture} 
   \draw[fill=RawSienna] 
   (-.5,-1)  -- (.5,-1) -- (.5,4) -- (-.5,4) -- (-.5,-1) ;
\draw[fill=green!50!black] 
(-3.5,2) -- (3.5, 2) -- (1.5,4) -- (3, 4) -- (1, 6) -- (2, 6) -- (0,9) -- (-2,6) -- (-1,6) -- (-3,4) -- (-1.5,4) -- (-3.5,2);
\foreach\deco in {(1.5,5.65),(-1.5,5.65),(0.75,7.5),(-0.75,7.5),(-2,3.65), (2,3.65), (2.6,1.65),(-2.6,1.65)}
\node at \deco {\usebox{\ball}} ; 
 \node [star, star point height=.3cm, minimum size=1.2cm, draw,fill=yellow] at (0,9.1) {};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Answer 6

Merry Christmast everyone!

\documentclass{beamer}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes.geometric}

\usepackage{animate}
\usepackage{hyperref}
\hypersetup{pdfpagemode=FullScreen}
\usepackage{ifthen}
\newcounter{mycount}
\setcounter{mycount}{0}

\begin{document}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{}
\begin{center}
\resizebox{5cm}{!}{%
    \begin{animateinline}[loop, poster = first,controls]{10}
    \whiledo{\themycount<10}{
        \begin{tikzpicture}[ballstyle/.style={circle,draw=blue!50,fill=\c,thick, minimum size=6mm}]
             \pgfmathdeclarerandomlist{color}{{red}{blue}{yellow}{white}{purple}}
             \pgfmathrandomitem{\c}{color}
             \foreach\ycoord in {-3,0,3}{
                \draw[fill=green,draw=green] (-3,\ycoord)--(3,\ycoord)--(0,\ycoord+3)--cycle;
                \node at (3,\ycoord) [ballstyle] {};
                \node at (-3,\ycoord) [ballstyle] {};}
             \node at (0,6) [star,fill =yellow,minimum size=2cm] {};
             \draw[fill=brown,draw=black] (-1,-3)--(1,-3)--(1,-5)--(-1,-5)--cycle;
        \end{tikzpicture}
        \stepcounter{mycount}
        \ifthenelse{\themycount<10}{
                \newframe
        }{
                \end{animateinline}
        }
        }
    }
\end{center}
\end{frame}

\end{document}

Answer 7

Just a tree

with extremely ugly code(I do not know how to do it corectly?! -ovelay and center):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{overpic}
\usepackage{graphicx} 
\begin{document}
\begin{overpic}[unit=1cm, width=8cm, height=12cm]{ttt}
\put(14.5,0){\includegraphics[width=4cm,height=12cm]{ttt}}
\put(23,0){\includegraphics[width=1.5cm,height=12cm]{ttt}}
\end{overpic}
\end{document}

ttt.pdf is the compiled tree from the question.