Based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient, a local formulation for anisotropic growth in soft biological tissues is formulated by connecting the growth tensor to the main anisotropy directions. In combination with an anisotropic driving force, the model enables an effective stress reduction due to growth-induced residual stresses. A method for the imitation of opening angle experiments in numerically simulated arterial segments, visualizing the deformations related to residual stresses, is presented and illustrated in a numerical example.