Lotus Coloring Pages

A Magical Flower Blooming from the Bottom of the Mud

Lotus grows its stems up from the deep mud in ponds and marshes, blooming into huge, stunning flowers right on the water's surface. Even though Lotus grows out of muddy places, its flowers and leaves never get dirty at all! Lotus blooms so brightly that people have loved it since long ago as a symbol of a pure heart.

Where Did the Name Come From? Does It Look Like a Beehive?

There is a super fun secret behind how Lotus got its name in Japanese! Look closely at the showerhead-shaped center of the flower. It has lots of round holes, so it looks just like a beehive! Because of this, people used to call it "Hachisu" (which means honeycomb), and over time, the name became shorter and turned into "Hasu".

What Is It Called in English?

In English, it is called "Lotus" or "Sacred lotus". Just like the word "sacred" means, Lotus is cared for as a very special flower all over the world!

When Can You See It? The Morning Secret

Lotus blooms beautifully in the hot summer, from around July to August. If you go to see Lotus, you should definitely go early in the morning!

• Lotus flowers slowly start opening around 5:00 in the morning. They look the prettiest from 7:00 to 9:00 AM.

• After lunchtime, Lotus closes back up like a little bud. It repeats this for three or four days, and then the petals gently fall away. It has a very special and brief routine!

Where Does It Grow? Places You Can See It

You can find Lotus all across Japan in ponds, marshes, and temple grounds. People also plant lots of Lotus in muddy fields called lotus farms to grow "renkon" (lotus root). Deep water with plenty of mud is the comfiest home for Lotus!

Super Shiny Even in Mud! The Amazing Secret of the Leaves

Lotus leaves are big and round. These leaves hold an amazing power that even surprises scientists! The surface of a Lotus leaf has tiny bumps that you cannot see, and they bounce water right off. This is called the "Lotus effect." When it rains, the water turns into round drops that roll across the leaf, washing away dirt and mud as they roll! That is why Lotus leaves stay clean and shiny, even in muddy places.

You Can Eat It Too! The Secret of Lotus Root

Have you ever eaten "renkon" (lotus root), the yummy vegetable with lots of holes in it? That is actually the stem of Lotus growing under the mud! If you leave renkon in the ground, stems grow up out of the water in summer, and the beautiful Lotus flower blooms. Lotus grown for flowers and Lotus grown for eating are a little different, but they are both part of the same Lotus family!

The Special Meaning of Lotus

Lotus has wonderful flower meanings that fit its life perfectly. The most famous ones are "a pure heart" and "holiness." These meanings came from the way Lotus blooms so beautifully without getting dirty from the mud. Just looking at Lotus makes you feel peaceful and refreshed!

Color the Petals with Beautiful Blends

Lotus flowers are mostly white, pastel pink, and dark pink.

• Blend your colors: The best trick is to make the pink color darker as you color toward the tips of the petals.

• Make it pop: Leave the bottom of the petals near the center white. Or add a soft touch of light yellow. This makes it look bright and soft, just like real sunlight is shining on it!

Tips to Color the Middle Part to Look Real

The middle part of the flower looks like a honeycomb. It makes a great accent!

• Base color: Try coloring this part a bright green or yellow-green.

• Color the stamens: There are many fuzzy stamens growing around the middle. Color them with a bright yellow to make them look full of energy.

• The seeds: Color the tiny round seeds inside the holes with dark green or brown. This will quickly make your picture look like a real science book!

How to Color Large Leaves and Their Veins

This coloring page has lots of big, wonderful leaves all over!

• Follow the lines: Move your colored pencil along the thin lines that spread out from the center of the leaf.

• Use different greens: Color the leaves in front with bright green. Use dark green or blue-green for leaves in the back or in the shade. This makes the leaves look like they overlap!

How to Color Water and Show Depth

The Lotus flower grows up and sticks out above the water.

• Color the water: Gently color the water between the leaves using light blue or emerald green.

• Add water drops: Remember the Lotus Effect? It is fun to draw your own round water drops on top of the leaves! Color one side of the drop a darker light blue. Leave a tiny white spot on the other side. It will shine like a real drop of water!

Try Different Colors for Buds and Dried Center Parts

The picture shows flower buds ready to bloom. It also shows dried centers after the petals fall off.

• Buds: Color hard buds with more green than the open flowers. Add a little pink to the tips. This shows the excitement of a flower about to bloom!

• Dried centers: After petals fall off, the center changes from green to brown or beige. If you color this part brown, your artwork will show the life of the Lotus in one picture!

A Pure Flower Blooming From the Mud

Lotus grows in muddy water, not in clean water! People say that the thicker the mud is, the bigger and prettier the flower blooms. It is a very cool and strong flower.

The Flowers Open Only in the Morning!

The Lotus flower starts to open slowly at dawn. It closes again before the morning is over! It opens and closes like this for about 3 or 4 days, and then the petals fall off. It lives for a short time.

Magic Leaves That Bounce Water Off

When raindrops fall on big Lotus leaves, the water does not soak in. It turns into round rolling water drops! Tiny tiny bumps on the leaf bounce the water off and wash away dirt.

The Roots Are Yummy "Renkon"!

Renkon is a vegetable with holes in it. You might eat it in Japanese food or tempura. It is actually the underground stem of the Lotus! Lotus is not just a pretty flower. It is also a big part of our meals.