Succulent Coloring Page

This succulent coloring page shows a rosette plant seen from above, with layer upon layer of pointed leaves opening out from a small center. The plant sits inside a round pot rim, and a small flower decorates each corner. It looks a lot like a mandala, and it is a relaxing page for teens and adults, and for kids of about 8 and up.

The leaves get smaller as they move toward the center, which is a lovely chance to practice shading. Most people take 30 to 45 minutes.

Who this page is for

Plant lovers will enjoy this one. Teens and adults can blend greens from dark at the edge to pale in the middle. Older kids can use a few colors and focus on staying inside the lines.

It is a pretty page for a plant club, a garden themed party or a quiet weekend morning.

Succulent coloring page color ideas

Real succulents come in far more colors than you may think. Try sage green with pink tips, like an echeveria. Blue green leaves look cool and calm, and purple or burgundy leaves look very rich.

Move from dark outer leaves to pale inner leaves, and finish with a soft pink at the center. A cream or terracotta background feels warm and earthy, and the pot rim can be a pale gray or green.

Add a slightly darker tip to every leaf for a realistic touch.

Tips for layered leaves

• Color one ring at a time, from the center to the edge.
• Shade the base of each leaf darker, where it tucks under the leaf above.
• Leave a thin pale line near each edge. It looks like light on the leaf.
• Use colored pencils, and blend with a light circular motion.

Fun facts about succulents

Succulents store water in their thick leaves, stems or roots, which lets them live through long dry spells. Cacti are one kind of succulent, but many others have no spines at all. The succulent plant article on Wikipedia has a long list of kinds.

The neat spiral in a rosette helps each leaf catch sunlight without shading the leaves below. Many succulents can grow a whole new plant from a single fallen leaf. Too much water is the usual cause of trouble, since their roots can rot in wet soil.

Succulents grow on nearly every continent. Some live in hot deserts, others on cold mountain rocks. Aloe, jade and hens and chicks are three kinds that people often keep at home, and all three are easy to care for on a sunny windowsill. Forget to water them for a week or two, and they will be just fine and happy.

Things to do after coloring

Grow one. Buy a small succulent and put it in a pot with a drainage hole and sandy soil. Give it bright light, and water only when the soil is fully dry. It is a good first plant for a busy teen.

Try leaf propagation. Gently twist a healthy leaf from a plant, let it dry for a few days and lay it on soil. In a few weeks, tiny roots and a small new plant may appear.

Make a gift card. Glue the colored rosette onto folded card stock and write a note for a friend who loves plants. It pairs well with a small potted succulent.

Try a calm color study. Pick a real plant, and mix pencil colors until you match the leaves as closely as you can.

More detailed pages to color

Find more designs in our coloring pages for teens and adults. For a garden scene, try the mushroom coloring page.

Questions