Paper Heliconia Flower Craft (Free Printable Template)
Bring a touch of the tropics into your craft time with this papercraft Heliconia flower! This vibrant, exotic flower craft is fun to make using simple colored craft paper and a free printable template. Whether you’re teaching kids about tropical plants, looking for a unique paper flower craft, or just want a creative project, this heliconia papercraft is a beautiful and engaging activity.
This craft is perfect for spring and summer themes, botany lessons, or decorating classrooms and homeschool spaces. With just a little bit of folding and gluing, kids can create a realistic heliconia flower, practicing fine motor skills and creative expression along the way!
If you love making more paper flower crafts, we have plenty of beautiful and creative projects to try! For a unique and thoughtful DIY gift, try the Flower Bouquet Craft, a gorgeous handmade bouquet that never wilts!
If you enjoy making interactive crafts, our 3D Flower Pop-Up Card is a wonderful way to surprise someone special with a beautiful floral design.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Craft
🌿 Tropical and unique! A fun way to introduce kids to exotic flowers.
✂️ Fine motor skill practice! Cutting, folding, and gluing help with hand coordination.
🎨 Customizable! Use different shades of red, orange, or pink to create various heliconia looks.
📄 Includes a printable template! Easy to trace and cut for a stress-free craft experience.
Materials Needed
- Paper Flower template – You can grab the free PDF file down below.
- Colored craft papers – Red, orange, or pink for the petals, yellow for the petal borders, and green for the leaves and stem.
- Printed template sheet – For easy tracing and cutting.
- A pair of scissors – For precise cutting.
- Craft glue – To assemble the flower.
- Pencil – To trace the template onto the paper.
How to Make a Papercraft Heliconia Flower
Step 1: Prepare the Paper Pieces
Print and cut out the heliconia flower template. Select your colored craft paper for the petals, petal borders, and stem and leaves. Use a pencil to trace the template onto the chosen craft papers, then carefully cut them out.
Step 2: Assemble the Petals
Take the small round petal cutouts and glue them onto the larger round petal borders to create the heliconia’s distinctive two-toned petals.
Step 3: Create the Stem
Take the green stem strip and begin coiling it diagonally from one corner.
Keep the coil tight and even, applying glue as needed to secure its shape.
Step 4: Attach the Petals
Fold each petal slightly in half to create a crease at the center—this will help them sit more naturally on the stem.
Apply glue to the creased section of a petal and attach it to one side of the coiled stem.
Step 5: Layer the Petals
Attach the next petal in the opposite direction, just above the previous one.
Continue gluing each new petal adjacent to the last but facing the opposite direction until the flower shape is complete.
Step 6: Add the Leaves
Take the leaf cutouts and fold them symmetrically in half to create a slight crease.
Attach them to the bottom of the stem, similar to how you attached the petals, and allow the glue to dry.
Your papercraft heliconia flower is now complete and ready to display!
Top Tips
✔️ Use sturdy paper for a more durable flower.
✔️ Experiment with colors—try pink, orange, or yellow petals to match real heliconia varieties.
✔️ Make a tropical bouquet by crafting multiple heliconia flowers and arranging them together.
Educational Uses
This heliconia flower craft is not just fun—it’s also a great educational tool!
Botany & Science Learning: Teach kids about tropical plants, their habitats, and why heliconias attract pollinators.
Fine Motor Development: Cutting, folding, and gluing help with hand-eye coordination and precision.
Creativity & Art Skills: Kids can explore color combinations and floral design while assembling their flowers.
Themed Lessons: Use this craft as part of a rainforest unit study, spring craft project, or Earth Day celebration!
Grab the Free Printable Template
To grab the free printable template for this papercraft heliconia, enter your name and email in the pink box below. We’ll send it straight to your inbox, along with more fun printable crafts and activities!
This printable is for personal or classroom use only— not for commercial purposes.
For more creative ways to use flowers in crafting, check out our Flower Bookmark Craft and Paper Flower Bookmarks—both of these easy projects make reading even more fun!
If you’re looking for printable floral crafts, our Printable Daffodil Craft Template and Printable Daisy Craft Template provide a simple cut-and-paste activity that’s great for preschoolers and younger kids. And for a stunning paper decoration, our Paper Flower Wreath is the perfect way to add a floral touch to any space!
This papercraft heliconia is a fun and engaging way to bring tropical beauty into your crafting! Whether you’re using it for botany lessons, seasonal crafts, or DIY decorations, this flower project is simple, creative, and absolutely stunning.
