diff --git a/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py b/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py
index 2f3d073cf..8f2304ae8 100644
--- a/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py
+++ b/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py
@@ -560,12 +560,17 @@ class Tree(Generic[TreeDataType], ScrollView, can_focus=True):
         label = self.render_label(node, NULL_STYLE, NULL_STYLE)
         return label.cell_len
 
-    def clear(self) -> None:
-        """Clear all nodes under root."""
+    def clear(self, label: TextType | None = None) -> None:
+        """Clear all nodes under root.
+
+        Args:
+            label: An optional new label for the root node. If not provided
+                the current root node's label will be used.
+        """
         self._line_cache.clear()
         self._tree_lines_cached = None
         self._current_id = 0
-        root_label = self.root._label
+        root_label = self.root._label if label is None else label
         root_data = self.root.data
         self.root = TreeNode(
             self,
diff --git a/tests/tree/test_tree_clearing.py b/tests/tree/test_tree_clearing.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56a4515d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tree/test_tree_clearing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from textual.app import App, ComposeResult
+from textual.widgets import Tree
+
+
+class VerseBody:
+    pass
+
+
+class VerseStar(VerseBody):
+    pass
+
+
+class VersePlanet(VerseBody):
+    pass
+
+
+class VerseMoon(VerseBody):
+    pass
+
+
+class TestTree(Tree[VerseBody]):
+    pass
+
+
+class TreeClearApp(App[None]):
+    """Tree clearing test app."""
+
+    def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
+        yield TestTree("White Sun", data=VerseStar())
+
+    def on_mount(self) -> None:
+        tree = self.query_one(TestTree)
+        node = tree.root.add("Londinium", VersePlanet())
+        node.add_leaf("Balkerne", VerseMoon())
+        node.add_leaf("Colchester", VerseMoon())
+        node = tree.root.add("Sihnon", VersePlanet())
+        node.add_leaf("Airen", VerseMoon())
+        node.add_leaf("Xiaojie", VerseMoon())
+
+
+async def test_tree_simple_clear() -> None:
+    """Clearing a tree should keep the old label and data."""
+    async with TreeClearApp().run_test() as pilot:
+        tree = pilot.app.query_one(TestTree)
+        assert len(tree.root.children) > 1
+        pilot.app.query_one(TestTree).clear()
+        assert len(tree.root.children) == 0
+        assert str(tree.root.label) == "White Sun"
+        assert isinstance(tree.root.data, VerseStar)
+
+
+async def test_tree_new_label_clear() -> None:
+    """Clearing a tree with a new label should use the new label and keep the old data."""
+    async with TreeClearApp().run_test() as pilot:
+        tree = pilot.app.query_one(TestTree)
+        assert len(tree.root.children) > 1
+        pilot.app.query_one(TestTree).clear("Jiangyin")
+        assert len(tree.root.children) == 0
+        assert str(tree.root.label) == "Jiangyin"
+        assert isinstance(tree.root.data, VerseStar)