How to redraw jstree tree with new data?
Try including the check_callback parameter in your core settings, (including the initial load) and ensure it is set to true. Then you should be able to see any changes made. Without this, I've found that I'm not seeing the replacement data, just the original data.
$('#tree').jstree({'core' : { 'check_callback' : true, 'data' : [ 'Simple root node', { 'id' : 'node_2', 'text' : 'Root node with options', 'state' : { 'opened' : true, 'selected' : true }, 'children' : [ { 'text' : 'Child 1' }, 'Child 2'] } ]});That handled the refresh part for me, but depending on what you're doing, you could also call $('#tree').jstree('refresh');.