depends, what your using it for? animation scene or a single frame.
I'm a fairly new maya user, only been doin it a few months self taught (wish i cld go uni or college), so i am in no position to help for something that will be assessed by a proffessional. lol
However, the way i would tackle a detailed tree from scratch, is creating a poly cylinder, and extrude a few random faces for branches. Then i would spend a very long time using references (images planes) detailing it and adding geometry, using the lattice deformer and any too, you get to get some fab results.
The other way is to create basic geometry and export it into Zbrush for major detail. You can get some amzing results!, then import it back into maya.
I might actually try it myself, so thanx for the idea. lol
those who succeed are only the failures that never gave up.
https://www.vimeo.com/7080130