Amur adonis Coloring Pages

Golden "Spring Herald" Shining in the Snow While it is still very cold, the Amur adonis pops up from the ground to bloom with bright golden flowers. Its petals are shaped like a satellite dish. This helps collect sunlight to warm the flower and bring insects over!

Names and English Origins

The Japanese name for Amur adonis holds a wish for happiness in the new year.

• English Names: In English, it is called Adonis or Pheasant’s eye.

• English Name Origins:

  • Adonis: Comes from Adonis, a handsome young boy loved by a goddess in Greek myths.

  • Pheasant’s eye: Means "eye of a pheasant bird." It got this name because the flower's color and shape look like a bird's eye.

• Japanese Name Origin: It combines the characters for "good fortune" and "long life" to make a lucky name for the New Year. People have loved calling it the "New Year's Day Plant" since long ago.

Blooming Season and Flower Meanings

Blooming Season The Amur adonis blooms from about February to April. Because it blooms around the traditional New Year, people treat it as a special flower to celebrate the New Year.

Flower Meanings Just like its name, it has many lucky meanings!

• "Inviting Happiness": Since it blooms first in early spring, people believe it brings good luck to you.

• "Eternal Happiness": This comes from a wish for happiness that lasts forever.

• "Reminiscing": A perfect message for looking back on warm memories as you welcome the new year.

Things to Be Careful About

Cute Look, But Poisonous! The Amur adonis is a very pretty flower, but it actually has strong poison inside. Its fresh sprouts look a bit like edible wild plants, so be careful never to eat one by mistake!

Here are some tips to help you color the bright golden shine of the Amur adonis!

Layer sunny yellow colors

• Base color: First, try coloring the whole flower with bright yellow or lemon yellow.

• Deep colors: Add a little orange or golden yellow near the base of the petals and where they overlap. This makes them look 3D and shiny in the sun!

How to color the jagged leaves

• The leaves of the Amur adonis are split into tiny pieces, just like carrot or parsley leaves.

• Color the whole leaf with yellow-green first. Then, draw thin lines with dark green to show the delicate leaves!

Shading the stems and ground

• The stems are often a green color with a bit of brown mixed in.

• If you color near the bottom with light brown, it will look like it is sprouting strongly out of the cold dirt!

The Name Means "Happiness" and "Long Life"

The name for the Amur adonis uses two very lucky kanji characters: "happiness" and "long life." Because it blooms around the traditional New Year, it is also called the "New Year's Day flower." It is a special flower for New Year celebrations!

A Parabola Antenna That Collects Sun Heat

The petals curve gently into the shape of a bowl. This works just like a parabola antenna to gather sunlight right in the center. The middle of the flower stays warmer than the air around it!

A "Natural Heater" for Insects

Why does it warm up its flower in the cold season? It does this to invite insects that are too cold to move. Its plan is to let insects rest in the warm flower and carry pollen away on their bodies!

A Flower That Changes with the Weather

The Amur adonis opens its flower only when the sun is out. When it gets cloudy or turns into night, it closes its flower. It does this so it will not lose the heat it gathered. The flower moves almost like it is alive!

Pretty But Poisonous, So Be Careful!

It is a pretty flower, but its roots and stems actually have strong poison. Its new sprouts look like butterbur buds, so be very careful never to eat them by mistake!