By . Sarah Griffiths . Pot plants can clutter up a workspace, providing little benefit other than looking pretty. But now there’s a mini tree that promises to charge your smartphone and can even be used as a light. The Electree Mini has solar panel 'leaves' to transform the light it absorbs into energy that can be used to charge a range of USB-connected devices as well as batteries. Scroll down for video . The mini power plant: The Electree (pictured) contains solar panels to transform the light it absorbs into energy that can be used to charge a range of USB-connected devices such as smart watches (pictured) and smartphones . The 'plant' is made from recycled plastic and contains no glue. It has nine solar panel 'leaves' that can be swivelled to face the sun. They transform light into energy that can be stored in batteries and used to power USB devices. A version of the tree enables it to be turned into a colour changing lantern. The Electree Mini will come in kit form and can be dismantled easily. Its design was inspired by bonsai trees and patterns in nature. It is available to pre-order from €199 (£164) via Indiegogo. The device has nine solar cells which can be swivelled on the ‘potplant’s’ plastic branches to get maximum exposure in the sunlight. Vivien Muller, the French designer behind the concept was inspired by bonsai trees and patterns found in nature when designing the device, which is now at crowd-funding stage. He intended it to provide solar-derived power to environments without electricity and after several prototypes over two years is close to bringing his idea to the public. The device comes in different versions: the basic Electree Mini, which recharges three AA or AAA batteries that people can use to power appliances; Electree LED, which turns the solar tree into a colour changing lantern and Electree USB, which will allow people in sunny countries to recharge their smartphones and smart watches every day. Smart: The Electree USB version of the 'potplant' will allow people in sunny countries to recharge their smartphones and smartwatches every day using solar power (pictured) Sun worshiper: The device has nine solar cells which can be swivelled on the 'potplant's' plastic branches to get maximum exposure in the sunlight . Owners of the 'potplant; will be able to recharge a smart watch . even on cloudy days. The Electree takes approximately four hours to . charge AA (LR6) batteries on a sunny day and around 48 hours in less . favourable lighting conditions. One version will allow people to make use of all the different functions, which come in the form of modules that can be clipped into the Electree’s ‘pot’. Made from recyclable materials, the Electree comes in kit form, allowing people to disassemble it when they are not using it. Mr Muller needs to raise €190,000 (£156,164) to reach his goal on crowd funding website Indiegogo to put his prototype into production. ‘Reserve an Electree mini for your home, office, or store, to ensure continuous aesthetic rapture coupled with a greener carbon footprint for yourself and all your visitors, colleagues, and customers,’ he said. The basic Electree Mini costs €199 (£164), with the USB and LED versions available to pre-order for €229 (£188). A version allowing people to use the ‘plant’ as a light, battery and smartphone charger is priced at €249 (£205) and delivery is estimated to be just in time for Christmas. Lightbulb moment: The Electree LED, uses solar energ harvested during the  daytime to transform into a colour changing lantern at night. Users can change the colour by twisting the plant . The device comes in different versions. The basic Electree Mini (pictured) recharges three AA or AAA batteries, that people can use to power appliances, in its base. It also has clip-in modules (also pictured) that turn it into a light and USB device charging station .
The Electree Mini contains nine solar panel 'leaves' that can be swivelled towards sunlight to transform the light they absorb into energy .
Designer from Metz France was inspired by bonsai trees and patterns found in nature to create his eco-friendly charging unit .
Electree Mini comes in different versions so it can be used to charge batteries, USB devices and as a colour-changing light .
It is available to pre-order from €199 (£164) on Indiegogo .
By . Sarah Griffiths . Pot plants can clutter up a workspace, providing little benefit other than looking pretty. But now there’s a mini tree that promises to charge your smartphone and can even be used as a light. The Electree Mini has solar panel 'leaves' to transform the light it absorbs into energy that can be used to charge a range of USB-connected devices as well as batteries. Scroll down for video . The mini power plant: The Electree (pictured) contains solar panels to transform the light it absorbs into energy that can be used to charge a range of USB-connected devices such as smart watches (pictured) and smartphones . The 'plant' is made from recycled plastic and contains no glue. It has nine solar panel 'leaves' that can be swivelled to face the sun. They transform light into energy that can be stored in batteries and used to power USB devices. A version of the tree enables it to be turned into a colour changing lantern. The Electree Mini will come in kit form and can be dismantled easily. Its design was inspired by bonsai trees and patterns in nature. It is available to pre-order from €199 (£164) via Indiegogo. The device has nine solar cells which can be swivelled on the ‘potplant’s’ plastic branches to get maximum exposure in the sunlight. Vivien Muller, the French designer behind the concept was inspired by bonsai trees and patterns found in nature when designing the device, which is now at crowd-funding stage. He intended it to provide solar-derived power to environments without electricity and after several prototypes over two years is close to bringing his idea to the public. The device comes in different versions: the basic Electree Mini, which recharges three AA or AAA batteries that people can use to power appliances; Electree LED, which turns the solar tree into a colour changing lantern and Electree USB, which will allow people in sunny countries to recharge their smartphones and smart watches every day. Smart: The Electree USB version of the 'potplant' will allow people in sunny countries to recharge their smartphones and smartwatches every day using solar power (pictured) Sun worshiper: The device has nine solar cells which can be swivelled on the 'potplant's' plastic branches to get maximum exposure in the sunlight . Owners of the 'potplant; will be able to recharge a smart watch . even on cloudy days. The Electree takes approximately four hours to . charge AA (LR6) batteries on a sunny day and around 48 hours in less . favourable lighting conditions. One version will allow people to make use of all the different functions, which come in the form of modules that can be clipped into the Electree’s ‘pot’. Made from recyclable materials, the Electree comes in kit form, allowing people to disassemble it when they are not using it. Mr Muller needs to raise €190,000 (£156,164) to reach his goal on crowd funding website Indiegogo to put his prototype into production. ‘Reserve an Electree mini for your home, office, or store, to ensure continuous aesthetic rapture coupled with a greener carbon footprint for yourself and all your visitors, colleagues, and customers,’ he said. The basic Electree Mini costs €199 (£164), with the USB and LED versions available to pre-order for €229 (£188). A version allowing people to use the ‘plant’ as a light, battery and smartphone charger is priced at €249 (£205) and delivery is estimated to be just in time for Christmas. Lightbulb moment: The Electree LED, uses solar energ harvested during the  daytime to transform into a colour changing lantern at night. Users can change the colour by twisting the plant . The device comes in different versions. The basic Electree Mini (pictured) recharges three AA or AAA batteries, that people can use to power appliances, in its base. It also has clip-in modules (also pictured) that turn it into a light and USB device charging station .
be used as a light. The Electree Mini has solar panel 'leaves' to transform the light it absorbs into energy that can be used to charge a range of bonsai trees and patterns in nature. It is available to pre-order from €199 (£164) via Indiegogo. The device has nine solar cells which concept was inspired by bonsai trees and patterns the public. The device comes in different solar cells which can be swivelled on the