diff --git a/config.cpp b/config.cpp
index 72d8524d..59eab198 100644
--- a/config.cpp
+++ b/config.cpp
@@ -649,6 +649,8 @@ EX void initConfig() {
   param_b(no_find_player, "no_find_player");
   param_b(game_keys_scroll, "game_keys_scroll");
   param_b(reg3::cubes_reg3, "cubes_reg3");
+  param_f(linepatterns::tree_starter, "tree_starter")
+  -> editable(0, 1, 0.05, "tree-drawing parameter", "How much of edges to draw for tree patterns (to show how the tree edges are oriented).", 't');
 
   param_b(arb::apeirogon_consistent_coloring, "apeirogon_consistent_coloring", true)
   -> editable("apeirogon_consistent_coloring", 'c');
diff --git a/pattern2.cpp b/pattern2.cpp
index 43096a4b..465404c1 100644
--- a/pattern2.cpp
+++ b/pattern2.cpp
@@ -2693,13 +2693,15 @@ EX namespace linepatterns {
       )
     );
 
+  EX ld tree_starter = 0.25;
+
   EX linepattern patTree = linepattern("underlying tree", 0x00d0d000, cheating,
     ALLCELLS(
       if(is_master(c)) {
         int dir = updir(c->master);
         if(dir == -1) continue;
         hyperpoint end = currentmap->master_relative(c, true) * currentmap->adj(c->master, dir) * C0;
-        hyperpoint start = mid(C0, mid(C0, mid(C0, end)));
+        hyperpoint start = normalize(C0 + tree_starter * (end - C0));
         gridlinef(V, start, V, end, col, 2 + vid.linequality);
         }
       )
@@ -2710,7 +2712,7 @@ EX namespace linepatterns {
         int dir = updir_alt(c->master);
         if(dir == -1) continue;
         hyperpoint end = currentmap->master_relative(c, true) * currentmap->adj(c->master, dir) * C0;
-        hyperpoint start = mid(C0, mid(C0, mid(C0, end)));
+        hyperpoint start = normalize(C0 + tree_starter * (end - C0));
         gridlinef(V, start, V, end, col, 2 + vid.linequality);
         }
       )
@@ -2861,8 +2863,11 @@ EX namespace linepatterns {
   EX linepattern patTriTree = linepattern("triangle grid: tree edges", 0xFFFFFF00, always_available,
     ALLCELLS(
       cell *parent = ts::right_parent(c, curr_dist);
-      if(gmatrix.count(parent)) 
-        gridlinef(V, C0, V * currentmap->adj(c, neighborId(c, parent)), C0, col, 2 + vid.linequality);
+      if(gmatrix.count(parent)) {
+        hyperpoint end = tC0(currentmap->adj(c, neighborId(c, parent)));
+        hyperpoint start = normalize(C0 + tree_starter * (end - C0));
+        gridlinef(V, start, V, end, col, 2 + vid.linequality);
+        }
       )
     );
   EX linepattern patTriOther = linepattern("triangle grid: other edges", 0xFFFFFF00, always_available, 
@@ -3024,6 +3029,8 @@ EX namespace linepatterns {
       dialog::editNumber(width, 0, 10, 0.1, 1, XLAT("line width"), "");
       });
 
+    add_edit(tree_starter);
+
     dialog::addBoolItem_action("edit widths individually", indiv, 'I');
 
     if(GDIM == 3)