Q: How to make a growing plant in 3D

Shimmergloom

I've been pondering lately on how to make a 3D plant grow.
I know a bit of animations, I could have the verteces that I'll need for the completed plant crumbled up somewhere inside the model of the smaller plant, but that would still give me texture problems as I want to have the colour of leaves change etc.

What method would I best use to have a plant develop from seed to full grown plant in a 3D game?

ZacD

Morph targets and blend shapes seems to work well. One of the recent UE4 streams had some growing plants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=564OYZanl3A&list=UUBobmJyzsJ6Ll7UbfhI4iwQ#t=1013

and at this time as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=564OYZanl3A&list=UUBobmJyzsJ6Ll7UbfhI4iwQ#t=1373

Shimmergloom

Thank you very much for taking the time to even look up the times!