Cherry blossom Coloring Pages

The deep connection between Japanese culture and Cherry blossom

Cherry blossom belongs to the rose family. As Japan's famous flower, you can see it in poetry, paintings, and music! It is a special sign of spring and new beginnings. Looking at Cherry blossom during flower viewing is an old Japanese tradition that started a long time ago.

Famous types of Cherry blossom

Did you know there are hundreds of types of Cherry blossom in Japan? They come in many shapes, and they bloom at different times!

Flower meanings of Cherry blossom

Cherry blossom means "inner beauty," "graceful woman," and "purity."

• Somei Yoshino: "Purity" and "Great beauty"

• Weeping Cherry blossom: "Grace" and "Tricky"

• Double-flowered Cherry blossom: "Great knowledge" and "Soft and flexible"

These special meanings match the pretty shape and gentle branches of Cherry blossom!

The Cherry blossom front and bloom times

Japan is very long from south to north. That is why Cherry blossom blooms at different times depending on where you are. The moving line that shows when flowers open is called the "Cherry blossom front."

• Kyushu and Shikoku: Flowers start opening in late March.

• Kanto and Kinki: You can see full blooms from late March to early April.

• Tohoku: Flowers bloom from mid to late April.

• Hokkaido: Flowers finally bloom around Golden Week in early May.

How to Layer Colors for Soft Pink

Cherry blossom petals are very thin and let light pass through them. Layering a few colors makes them look more real than using just one color!

• Basic color blending: Color the bottom of the petal with a slightly darker pink. Make it softer and almost white as you move toward the tip. If you add a tiny bit of yellow or red around the center, your flower will look lively!

• Adding shadows: When you color Cherry blossom flowers growing close together, add light purple or light blue shadows where they overlap. This makes them look pop out and look real!

Make Strong Branches and Trunks

Rough and strong branches make gentle flowers stand out even more.

• Adding texture: Cherry blossom bark has lines going across it. Mix gray and black with your brown to make it look hard and rough!

• Flower and branch contrast: Dark branches and soft pink flowers look great together. Making this difference clear brings your whole picture to life!

Creating Depth and Backgrounds

Here are tips to make a beautiful Cherry blossom scene.

• Making space: Color close-up Cherry blossom petals carefully one by one. For far-away Cherry blossom trees, color them soft and blurry like pink clouds. This makes a long row of trees look big and deep!

• Choosing background colors: Use light blue for a clear sunny sky. Use dark blue and purple for night views. The background color changes how the Cherry blossom flowers look!

Focusing on Small Details

Looking closely at small parts makes your Cherry blossom drawing even prettier!

• Little parts: Color the small cups under the flowers with reddish-brown or green. Carefully color the thin stalks in the middle too. This adds lovely details to your plant!

They Are Actually in the Rose Family!

The beautiful Cherry blossom that blooms in spring is actually a member of the "Rose family," just like apples, strawberries, and peaches. If you look closely at the shape of the flowers, you can see how they look a little bit alike!

Are the Petal Tips Split?

If you look really closely at the petals of a Cherry blossom, you will see that the tips are split in two, just like a heart shape. If you cannot tell a Cherry blossom from a plum or peach blossom, check the shape of the petal tips!

"Somei Yoshino" Is the Most Common in Japan

The Cherry blossom you see most often in towns and parks is called Somei Yoshino. People long ago made this Cherry blossom by crossing two different types. Every Somei Yoshino in Japan is actually a copy (clone) of the exact same tree, made by human hands!

Flowers Bloom Before the Leaves Grow

Many plants grow leaves before they bloom, but Cherry blossom trees like Somei Yoshino have flowers first! Green leaves grow after the flowers fall off. That is why the whole tree looks so pretty and pink when it is in full bloom!