Cosmos Coloring Pages

Cosmos: gentle flowers blooming in the autumn sky!

Cosmos are gentle flowers that sway in the cool breeze when autumn comes. They look just like fluttering skirts! You can find them in many places, like parks, gardens, and flower fields.

Types and colors of Cosmos

There are many different types of Cosmos. The pink, white, and red Cosmos you see most often are a type called "Sensation Cosmos." There are also yellow and orange Cosmos, which are a type called "Yellow Cosmos." Every Cosmos is so pretty and cute!

• Pink, white, and red Cosmos: These are the Cosmos you see the most. They have thin, fine leaves.
• Yellow Cosmos: They are a little different from the pink Cosmos. They have wider leaves and yellow or orange flowers.

The name of the Cosmos

The name Cosmos comes from a Greek word that means "beautiful" or "harmony." People say it got this name because the petals are lined up so neatly. It looks just like the stars in space lined up in the sky! In Japan, people wrote the name with characters that mean "autumn cherry blossom." This started when a famous singer had a hit song called "Akizakura" and read the characters as Cosmos.

When do Cosmos bloom?

Cosmos start to bloom when summer ends and autumn begins. They soak up lots of sunlight and sway in the wind, blooming all the way until the end of autumn. That is why everyone loves them as the special flower of autumn!

Where do Cosmos bloom?

You can see Cosmos in many places all over Japan. They love sunny spots, so you can find lots of them in big fields, by the roadside, and in parks. When autumn comes, let's go visit a flower field nearby!

Color Graduations on the Petals

If you change the color of the Cosmos petals little by little, one by one, your painting will look much more real! Try making the middle of the petals a dark pink and making it lighter toward the outside. It will make them look 3D!

• Basic colors: Pick your favorite color from pink, white, red, yellow, or orange.
• Change how dark you color: Press hard with your colored pencils or crayons to make dark spots, and press softly to make light spots. This shows how the petals overlap!

How to Color the Leaves and Stems

Cosmos leaves and stems are thin and soft. If you color these thin lines carefully, you can make your Cosmos look very delicate.

• Leaves: If you use a bright green, it will look lively! Making the tips of the leaves a little darker makes them look like they are blowing in the wind.
• Stems: Use the same green as the leaves. Making the middle of the stem a little lighter and the edges a little darker helps show its round shape.

Fun Ideas for the Background

If you color around the Cosmos, your picture will be even more fun!

• Sky: Autumn skies where Cosmos bloom look nice and fresh if you use a light blue.
• Clouds: Leaving white clouds uncolored or adding shadows with a light gray is a great idea too!
• Ground: If you color the soil and grass with brown or green, your Cosmos will look like it is standing firmly on the ground.

Make Your Very Own Cosmos Bloom!

It is also fun to mix colors or use your own special colors on your Cosmos. Try combining many colors to make your very own Cosmos bloom!

Actually born in Mexico, a flower from a foreign land

Cosmos is a big part of autumn views in Japan, but it actually came from a far-away country called Mexico. It arrived in Japan in the Meiji period, and now you can see it all over the country.

The thin stem has a secret!

A Cosmos stem looks skinny, and it seems like it might break easily when the wind blows, right? But it is actually thin on purpose to let the wind pass right by. Even if it gets knocked down by a typhoon, it is a very strong flower that can grow roots from its stem and stand right back up.