This study aimed to identify robust indicators that summarize the respective importance of ontogeny and environmental constraints in tree development. In the proposed approach, tree growth data correspond to the retrospective measurement of annual shoot characteristics (e.g. length, number of branches) along the main stem. We applied segmentation models to identify tree growth phases. These segmentation models, which are hidden semi-Markov chains, were compared with simple hidden Markov chains that correspond to the environment-driven development assumption. This statistical modelling approach was applied to both evergreen (Corsican pine and silver fir) and deciduous (sessile oak and Persian walnut) tree species growing in contrasted conditions ranging from managed forest stands to unmanaged under storeys. Growth phase duration distributions estimated within these segmentation models characterize the respective importance of ontogeny and environmental constraints in tree development at the population scale and have very contrasted characteristics in terms of shape and relative dispersion between ontogeny-driven and environment-driven tree development. These characteristics may changeover tree life, reflecting changes in tree competition. Growth phase duration distributions summarize the joint trajectory of tree ontogeny and environment without requiring tree growth follow-up data for their estimation.