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How to Draw Tropical Leaves

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw tropical leaves in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the middle stalk.

Step 1: The middle stalk
From the bottom middle draw 2 gently curving lines up to the middle for a stalk, narrower at the top.
Step 2: A banana leaf
On top of the stalk draw a long paddle leaf, 3 times taller than wide, with a round tip.
Tip Tropical leaves are big: make them bigger than you think.
Step 3: Banana veins
Draw a line up the middle of the banana leaf. Add 6 veins across each side, slanting up a little.
Step 4: The left stalk
Start on the ground left of the stalk. Draw a stalk curving up left, stop just below the banana leaf.
Step 5: A monstera leaf
On top of the left stalk draw a big rounded leaf leaning left, with 2 deep splits in each side.
Tip The splits are curved cuts from the edge toward the middle.
Step 6: Holes and veins
Draw a vein up the middle of the monstera leaf and one curved vein out each side. Add 2 slits.
Step 7: The right stalk
Start on the ground right of the stalk. Draw a stalk curving up right, stop just below the banana leaf.
Step 8: A fan palm
From the top of the right stalk draw 9 long pointed fronds side by side in a half-circle fan.
Step 9: Ground and grass
Draw a ground line under the stalks, from near the left edge to near the right. Add 2 grass tufts.
Tip Make each tuft 3 short blades fanning out from one spot.
Step 10: Green banana leaf
Go over your lines, then colour the banana leaf leaf green.
Step 11: Dark green monstera
Colour the monstera leaf dark green, leaving the 2 slits white.
Step 12: Teal fan palm
Colour the 9 fronds of the fan palm teal.
Step 13: Green stalks
Colour the 3 stalks dark green. Go over your lines and your tropical leaves are done!