Flower‐like Cu2O/ZnO was prepared by hydrothermal method with the reducing agent of glucose for removal of dyes in aqueous medium. As‐prepared samples were characterized by FE‐SEM, XRD, and TEM. Flower‐like Cu2O/ZnO could both photodegrade Tartrazine (TA) under UV and visible lights with the removal efficiencies of 85.3 and 96.1 %, respectively, and adsorbed TA with the removal efficiency of 77.5 %. The effects of adsorbent dosage, dye concentration, and pH solution on adsorption of dyes were investigated. The kinetic adsorption of TA on flower‐like Cu2O/ZnO was studied by pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order models. In addition, the performance of as‐prepared material was evaluated by cyclic test and adsorption of other dyes such as methylene blue, Janus green B and Congo red.