Zinnia Drawing Ideas
Twelve zinnia drawings you can copy straight onto paper, from a single bloom to a garden row and a mandala. Every one is a clean pencil outline drawn by hand, with no shading and no colour. Pick one, keep it next to you, and copy it line by line.
How to draw a zinnia step by step
A zinnia is one of the tidiest flowers to draw. The petals are flat and even, and the centre is small and neat, so there is very little to go wrong.
- Draw a small circle for the centre. A zinnia has a neat button middle, often with a tiny ring of star shapes on it.
- Draw a larger circle around it lightly as a guide for the petal tips.
- Fill the ring with petals. Zinnia petals are flat, fairly wide and rounded at the end, and they sit almost edge to edge.
- Add a second layer of petals behind the first if you want a fuller flower, offset so they show through the gaps.
- Draw a straight sturdy stem and add the leaves. Zinnia leaves are pointed ovals that sit directly against the stem with no stalk.
Darken your final lines and rub out the guide circle.
Which zinnia should you start with
If this is your first flower
Start with the simple single zinnia bloom or the bud. Both are small, face straight at you and have nothing else on the page.
If you have drawn flowers before
Try the double petal zinnia, the two zinnias on one branch or the one with a butterfly. The flower stays simple and you are adding a layer or a second element.
If you want a challenge
The mandala is the most detailed. The side view zinnia is quietly difficult, because the flower head has to look like it is tilting rather than squashed.
What you need
An HB pencil, plain paper and an eraser. A 2B pencil helps if you want darker final lines. Nothing on this page needs a tablet, a light box or special paper, and none of these were drawn with any.
Three things that make a zinnia look right
- The petals are too pointed. Zinnia petals are rounded at the tip, almost square. Pointed petals push the flower towards a daisy.
- The centre is too large. A zinnia has a small tidy button in the middle. A large centre makes it look like a sunflower.
- The leaves have stalks. Zinnia leaves attach straight to the stem with no stalk at all. Adding one is a small thing that reads as wrong.
Zinnia or dahlia
Both are round garden flowers with layered petals, and they look similar in outline. A zinnia has flat rounded petals in one or two loose layers with a visible centre. A dahlia has many more petals, often pointed or rolled at the edges, packed so tightly that the centre is hidden. If you cannot see the middle, you have drawn a dahlia.
Ways to use these drawings
Copy any of these by hand, or download and print them for yourself, for your children or for your classroom. They work as colouring sheets, tracing practice, a warm up before a bigger drawing, or line art for a card. If you want to use one in something you sell, write to us first.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest zinnia drawing on this page?
The simple single zinnia bloom. It is one small centre, a ring of flat petals, a stem and two leaves. The zinnia bud is quicker still if you want a warm up.
Are these zinnia drawings free to download?
Yes. Every drawing here can be downloaded and printed for personal use, school use or classroom use at no cost. For commercial use, please contact us first.
How many petals does a zinnia have?
Single zinnias have around eight to sixteen in one ring. Double varieties have several layers. For drawing, one ring of twelve or a double ring looks right.
What is the difference between a zinnia and a dahlia?
A zinnia has flat rounded petals in one or two layers with a visible centre. A dahlia has many more petals, often pointed, packed so tightly the centre is hidden.
How do I draw a double petal zinnia?
Draw the front ring of petals first and finish it completely. Then add a second ring behind it, placing each petal so it peeks out through a gap in the front ring.
Can children draw these?
The simple bloom, the bud and the garden row all suit children around six and up. The mandala and the side view flower suit older children and adults.
What pencil should I use?
An HB for the light guide circle and a 2B for the final lines. If you only have one pencil, an HB is fine.
Are these drawings made by hand?
Yes. Each one was drawn in pencil on plain paper and photographed. They are not computer generated or traced from photographs.