stuff you probably finde usefull:
Addons:
Ivy gen ()
looptools ()
sapling ()

else:
Loopselection (workes also with faces and mesh):
https://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.4/Manual/Modeling/Meshes/Selecting/Edges
smooth shading:
https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/19131/how-to-properly-use-face-smooth-shading
in case of Nvidia: CUDA

https://www.blenderguru.com/articles/4-easy-ways-to-speed-up-cycles