Chrysanthemum-like ZnO nanowire clusters were prepared by hydrothermal process, then were transferred to Ti substrate by electrophoresis method, and uniform ZnO nano-film with certain thickness was formed. Finally ZnO field emission cathode sample was fabricated after vacuum heat treatment. The microstructure and the morphology of chrysanthemum-like ZnO nanowire clusters were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. Field emission tests were conducted for cathode samples after heat treatment, results reveal that the low turn-on field is 2.0 V/mm for the chrysanthemum-like ZnO, and the threshold field is 5.5 V/mm. Moreover, the field emission current density is 200 mA/cm2 under the condition of electric field of 7.5 V/mm, and the field emission current density and its stability can be effectively improved by appropriate enlarging the thickness of the ZnO coating. The field emission mechanism was also explored.