from scipy.cluster import hierarchy
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# A very basic example:

ytdist = np.array([662., 877., 255., 412., 996., 295., 468., 268.,
                   400., 754., 564., 138., 219., 869., 669.])
Z = hierarchy.linkage(ytdist, 'single')
plt.figure()
dn = hierarchy.dendrogram(Z)

# Now plot in given axes, improve the color scheme and use both vertical and
# horizontal orientations:

hierarchy.set_link_color_palette(['m', 'c', 'y', 'k'])
fig, axes = plt.subplots(1, 2, figsize=(8, 3))
dn1 = hierarchy.dendrogram(Z, ax=axes[0], above_threshold_color='y',
                           orientation='top')
dn2 = hierarchy.dendrogram(Z, ax=axes[1], above_threshold_color='#bcbddc',
                           orientation='right')
hierarchy.set_link_color_palette(None)  # reset to default after use
plt.show()