--Spoilers ahead--
As far as I can tell, this can go on infinitely? I know the tree function is not infinite, so there must be a difference between the two. You can see my possibly infinite solution below:
very smart!
the tree(3) problem introduces colors of seeds (different colors of flowers) and also counts additional cases. like if the second tree in your series blue tips and red for the rest, then it would be forbidden for the next one to have blue tips and a red "trunk". imagine it removed the flower in the middle. this type of similar structure would also not be allowed. also remember that it is true in both cases that order maters, ie. it matters which way along a branch is "up".