diff --git a/src/cdk/tree/toggle.ts b/src/cdk/tree/toggle.ts
index a6aa04084d0a..ee2956b9d7f9 100644
--- a/src/cdk/tree/toggle.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/tree/toggle.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export class CdkTreeNodeToggle<T> {
   @Input('cdkTreeNodeToggleRecursive')
   get recursive(): boolean { return this._recursive; }
   set recursive(value: boolean) { this._recursive = coerceBooleanProperty(value); }
-  protected _recursive = true;
+  protected _recursive = false;
 
   constructor(protected _tree: CdkTree<T>,
               protected _treeNode: CdkTreeNode<T>) {}
diff --git a/src/lib/tree/toggle.ts b/src/lib/tree/toggle.ts
index 4983bc447e69..19542d8a03b4 100644
--- a/src/lib/tree/toggle.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tree/toggle.ts
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ import {CdkTreeNodeToggle} from '@angular/cdk/tree';
   providers: [{provide: CdkTreeNodeToggle, useExisting: MatTreeNodeToggle}]
 })
 export class MatTreeNodeToggle<T> extends CdkTreeNodeToggle<T> {
-  @Input('matTreeNodeToggleRecursive') recursive: boolean = true;
+  @Input('matTreeNodeToggleRecursive') recursive: boolean = false;
 }