diff --git a/py-polars/polars/lazyframe/frame.py b/py-polars/polars/lazyframe/frame.py
index 055b954a979d..560542d6ea86 100644
--- a/py-polars/polars/lazyframe/frame.py
+++ b/py-polars/polars/lazyframe/frame.py
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@
         ClosedInterval,
         ColumnNameOrSelector,
         CsvQuoteStyle,
+        ExplainFormat,
         FillNullStrategy,
         FrameInitTypes,
         IntoExpr,
@@ -881,6 +882,7 @@ def skip_minmax(dt: PolarsDataType) -> bool:
     def explain(
         self,
         *,
+        format: ExplainFormat = "plain",
         optimized: bool = True,
         type_coercion: bool = True,
         predicate_pushdown: bool = True,
@@ -891,7 +893,7 @@ def explain(
         comm_subexpr_elim: bool = True,
         cluster_with_columns: bool = True,
         streaming: bool = False,
-        tree_format: bool = False,
+        tree_format: bool | None = None,
     ) -> str:
         """
         Create a string representation of the query plan.
@@ -900,6 +902,8 @@ def explain(
 
         Parameters
         ----------
+        format : {'plain', 'tree'}
+            The format to use for displaying the logical plan.
         optimized
             Return an optimized query plan. Defaults to `True`.
             If this is set to `True` the subsequent
@@ -924,7 +928,10 @@ def explain(
         streaming
             Run parts of the query in a streaming fashion (this is in an alpha state)
         tree_format
-            Format the output as a tree
+            Format the output as a tree.
+
+            .. deprecated:: 0.20.30
+                Use `format="tree"` instead.
 
         Examples
         --------
@@ -939,6 +946,15 @@ def explain(
         ...     "a"
         ... ).explain()  # doctest: +SKIP
         """
+        if tree_format is not None:
+            issue_deprecation_warning(
+                "The `tree_format` parameter for `LazyFrame.explain` is deprecated"
+                " Use the `format` parameter instead.",
+                version="0.20.30",
+            )
+            if tree_format:
+                format = "tree"
+
         if optimized:
             ldf = self._ldf.optimization_toggle(
                 type_coercion,
@@ -952,13 +968,15 @@ def explain(
                 streaming,
                 _eager=False,
             )
-            if tree_format:
+            if format == "tree":
                 return ldf.describe_optimized_plan_tree()
-            return ldf.describe_optimized_plan()
+            else:
+                return ldf.describe_optimized_plan()
 
-        if tree_format:
+        if format == "tree":
             return self._ldf.describe_plan_tree()
-        return self._ldf.describe_plan()
+        else:
+            return self._ldf.describe_plan()
 
     def show_graph(
         self,
diff --git a/py-polars/polars/type_aliases.py b/py-polars/polars/type_aliases.py
index d65e36be40ea..924afb0f306e 100644
--- a/py-polars/polars/type_aliases.py
+++ b/py-polars/polars/type_aliases.py
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@
 TorchExportType: TypeAlias = Literal["tensor", "dataset", "dict"]
 TransferEncoding: TypeAlias = Literal["hex", "base64"]
 WindowMappingStrategy: TypeAlias = Literal["group_to_rows", "join", "explode"]
+ExplainFormat: TypeAlias = Literal["plain", "tree"]
 
 # type signature for allowed frame init
 FrameInitTypes: TypeAlias = Union[
diff --git a/py-polars/tests/unit/lazyframe/test_explain.py b/py-polars/tests/unit/lazyframe/test_explain.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9906d9db8e71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py-polars/tests/unit/lazyframe/test_explain.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+import polars as pl
+
+
+def test_lf_explain() -> None:
+    lf = pl.LazyFrame({"a": [1, 2, 3, 4], "b": [5, 6, 7, 8]})
+    plan = lf.select("a").select(pl.col("a").sum() + pl.len())
+
+    result = plan.explain()
+
+    expected = """\
+ SELECT [[(col("a").sum()) + (len().cast(Int64))]] FROM
+  DF ["a", "b"]; PROJECT 1/2 COLUMNS; SELECTION: None\
+"""
+    assert result == expected
+
+
+def test_lf_explain_format_tree() -> None:
+    lf = pl.LazyFrame({"a": [1, 2, 3, 4], "b": [5, 6, 7, 8]})
+    plan = lf.select("a").select(pl.col("a").sum() + pl.len())
+
+    result = plan.explain(format="tree")
+
+    expected = """\
+                0                        1
+   ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+   │
+   │        ╭────────╮
+ 0 │        │ SELECT │
+   │        ╰───┬┬───╯
+   │            ││
+   │            │╰───────────────────────╮
+   │            │                        │
+   │  ╭─────────┴──────────╮             │
+   │  │ expression:        │  ╭──────────┴──────────╮
+   │  │ [(col("a")         │  │ FROM:               │
+ 1 │  │   .sum()) + (len() │  │ DF ["a", "b"]       │
+   │  │   .cast(Int64))]   │  │ PROJECT 1/2 COLUMNS │
+   │  ╰────────────────────╯  ╰─────────────────────╯
+\
+"""
+    assert result == expected
+
+
+def test_lf_explain_tree_format_deprecated() -> None:
+    lf = pl.LazyFrame({"a": [1, 2, 3, 4], "b": [5, 6, 7, 8]})
+
+    with pytest.deprecated_call():
+        lf.explain(tree_format=True)