diff --git a/benches/bench.rs b/benches/bench.rs
index d2212a7..7b04039 100644
--- a/benches/bench.rs
+++ b/benches/bench.rs
@@ -74,14 +74,14 @@ fn init(criterion: &mut Criterion) {
     group.bench_function("empty", |bencher| {
         bencher.iter(|| {
             let items: Vec<TreeItem<usize>> = vec![];
-            black_box(Tree::new(black_box(items))).unwrap();
+            black_box(Tree::new(black_box(&items))).unwrap();
         });
     });
 
     group.bench_function("example-items", |bencher| {
         bencher.iter(|| {
             let items = example_items();
-            black_box(Tree::new(black_box(items))).unwrap();
+            black_box(Tree::new(black_box(&items))).unwrap();
         });
     });
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ fn renders(criterion: &mut Criterion) {
 
     group.bench_function("empty", |bencher| {
         let items: Vec<TreeItem<usize>> = vec![];
-        let tree = Tree::new(items).unwrap();
+        let tree = Tree::new(&items).unwrap();
         let mut state = TreeState::default();
         bencher.iter_batched(
             || (tree.clone(), Buffer::empty(buffer_size)),
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ fn renders(criterion: &mut Criterion) {
 
     group.bench_function("example-items", |bencher| {
         let items = example_items();
-        let tree = Tree::new(items).unwrap();
+        let tree = Tree::new(&items).unwrap();
         let mut state = TreeState::default();
         state.open(vec!["b"]);
         state.open(vec!["b", "d"]);
diff --git a/examples/example.rs b/examples/example.rs
index 05dde17..df353cb 100644
--- a/examples/example.rs
+++ b/examples/example.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ impl App {
 
     fn draw(&mut self, frame: &mut Frame) {
         let area = frame.size();
-        let widget = Tree::new(self.items.clone())
+        let widget = Tree::new(&self.items)
             .expect("all item identifiers are unique")
             .block(
                 Block::bordered()
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 0ea3bc3..a13ee7d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ mod tree_state;
 /// terminal.draw(|frame| {
 ///     let area = frame.size();
 ///
-///     let tree_widget = Tree::new(items)
+///     let tree_widget = Tree::new(&items)
 ///         .expect("all item identifiers are unique")
 ///         .block(Block::bordered().title("Tree Widget"));
 ///
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ mod tree_state;
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Tree<'a, Identifier> {
-    items: Vec<TreeItem<'a, Identifier>>,
+    items: &'a [TreeItem<'a, Identifier>],
 
     block: Option<Block<'a>>,
     scrollbar: Option<Scrollbar<'a>>,
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ where
     /// # Errors
     ///
     /// Errors when there are duplicate identifiers in the children.
-    pub fn new(items: Vec<TreeItem<'a, Identifier>>) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
+    pub fn new(items: &'a [TreeItem<'a, Identifier>]) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
         let identifiers = items
             .iter()
             .map(|item| &item.identifier)
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ where
 fn tree_new_errors_with_duplicate_identifiers() {
     let item = TreeItem::new_leaf("same", "text");
     let another = item.clone();
-    Tree::new(vec![item, another]).unwrap();
+    Tree::new(&[item, another]).unwrap();
 }
 
 impl<Identifier> StatefulWidget for Tree<'_, Identifier>
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ where
             return;
         }
 
-        let visible = state.flatten(&self.items);
+        let visible = state.flatten(self.items);
         state.last_biggest_index = visible.len().saturating_sub(1);
         if visible.is_empty() {
             return;
@@ -349,7 +349,8 @@ mod render_tests {
     #[must_use]
     #[track_caller]
     fn render(width: u16, height: u16, state: &mut TreeState<&'static str>) -> Buffer {
-        let tree = Tree::new(TreeItem::example()).unwrap();
+        let items = TreeItem::example();
+        let tree = Tree::new(&items).unwrap();
         let area = Rect::new(0, 0, width, height);
         let mut buffer = Buffer::empty(area);
         StatefulWidget::render(tree, area, &mut buffer, state);