Maize plants form a key element of many people’s diets, and understanding the way that they grow, thrive, and develop is very important. With this in mind, we will learn how to draw and label our very own maize plant throughout its life – let’s get started!
Tutorial Video
Step-By-Step Images and Instructions
1.

Start with a black pen, and draw two tall half-circle shapes in the center of your page, angling these slightly. Add a small “teardrop” shape to the left, and a longer shape to the right, and then add an arrow to the right of these shapes.
2.

Just below the arrow, add a slightly square “C” shape, and then two lines that head to the right, and then down to end in a point. Add an arrow to the bottom of this.
3.

Replicate a slightly smaller version of this shape at the bottom of the arrow…
4.

And then bring up two lines on the right side of this, and top these with two pointed leaves.
5.

Add an arrow to the bottom left of this…
6.

And then add a tall “leaf” shape, with two similar shapes to the right, and a point at the bottom.
7.

Add another two curved shapes, angled at a right angle, below this, and bring a curved shape across to the left.
8.

Add segments to the bottom to create a stalk for your plant…
9.

And then add fine lines to the bottom to create a root system.
10.

Add a long, pointed shape to the left, and then a curved shape to the left side of this, pointing down towards the bottom of the page.
11.

Add a curved shape to the left of this, and add a wavy line to the bottom for another ear of maize.
12.

Add a long, thin stalk to the center of this…
13.

And then add a series of long, thin curves to the top and sides of this section.
14.

Use a yellow pen to add highlights to these lines…
15.

And then add arrows to either side, pointing to the left.
16.

Add another set of leaves and ears to the top left of this, just as you did before…
17.

And add more shapes to the bottom of this.
18.

Add a small corn shape to the left of this, connecting the bottom group to the one above.
19.

Add cross-hatching to divide the corn into tiny squares…
20.

And then repeat this with another piece of corn to the right.
21.

Add more leaves to the bottom and top…
22.

And then join these with a stalk in the center.
23.

Use a black pen to add a delicate root system to the bottom…
24.

And then curved lines to the top, just as you did in the previous step.
25.

Once again, use a yellow pen to add highlights to these lines.
26.

Add an arrow to the top right of this…
27.

And then add a tall, thin oval shape.
28.

Bring tall leaves up at the sides of this…
29.

And a small, jagged shape to the top, as well as a square at the bottom.
30.

Divide this into small squares with cross-hatching…
31.

And then use a gray pen to shade the bent sections of your diagram, and the small pointed shapes in the first stage.
32.

Use a yellow pen for the small sections of corn…
33.

And then use a brown pen for the top and inside of the leaves surrounding the corn.
34.

Now, use a green pen for the leaves in each stage.
35.

Use a light green pen for the leaves in the final stage…
36.

And then add the labels, from start to finish – “SEEDS”, “GERMINATION”, “SPROUT”, “SEEDLING”, “FLOWERING”, “FRUIT”, and “FRUITS WITH SEEDS” to complete the diagram.
And there we have it – the life cycle of a maize plant, and all that you need to know about these important plants!