The Ultimate Guide To Flower Tattoos

Flower Tattoos

Why is it that so many people get flower tattoos?

And, are flower tattoos exclusively feminine?

We will see all of the most popular flower tattoos and their meanings.

Many people like to get flower tattoos for their aesthetic values.

However, there is a lot to be said about their meanings as well.

Each individual flower has its own symbolism.

And no, flower tattoos are not all only for women.

Let’s take a general look at what each of the most popular flower tattoos symbolizes.

Rose Tattoos

Let’s start with arguably the most popular flower tattoo: the rose.

The most common interpretation of a rose tattoo is something to do with love; whether it be about passion, life-long companionship, or even heartbreak.

Roses are popular among men and women, having both aesthetic value and meaning.

You could be receiving a rose tattoo because you are remembering the one who got away.

Perhaps the one you felt all-consuming love for has unfortunately passed away, and you want a tattoo to honor them.

This is a happy display of your affection for these people you have lost; a tattoo is a great way to show that you will always love them no matter what separates you.

Sunflower Tattoos

The sunflower is undoubtedly a happy flower.

Sunflower tattoos usually mean joy or happiness, and sometimes they could mean faith or growth.

The sunflower tattoo’s design can be full of nature, geometric, in the traditional American style, grainy and rugged, or even have a face at the center of the flower.

Sunflower tattoos also show a flower that is bright and charming and that is a great representation of the miracle of life, or even God himself.

Not to mention, tattoos of sunflowers symbolize vitality because they have exceptionally long stems and petals, seeming to take in all the sun’s energy for the purpose of massive growth.

Chrysanthemum Tattoos

Chrysanthemums are often seen in Japanese-style tattoos with the excited petals curling up as if in motion.

Especially in Japanese culture, this is one of the flowers that are commonly part of tattoos for both men and women.

No matter which gender is receiving the tattoo, chrysanthemum tattoos have a meaning dependent on the color of the petals.

For example, red and pink chrysanthemum tattoos mean romance, a first date, or attraction– all pointing towards love.

Another meaning of these tattoos is a Chinese belief that chrysanthemums symbolize long life and good luck in the home.

Chrysanthemums also represent celebration, and in tattoo form, refer to an exciting accomplishment or a way of celebrating something special.

Orchid Tattoos

Orchid tattoos exhibit a rare beauty and are shown in the colors purple, blue, pink, black, and white– pretty much any color you can think of.

For men or women, these colors each signify a different corresponding meaning, and so does each cultural view.

However, with this flower, there is not really a commonality between all of the different meanings.

Each design will be specific and uniquely meaningful.

Take a blue orchid for example, which can mean spirituality, zen, or meditation, while yellow orchids symbolize friendship or starting something new.

Culturally speaking, for the Japanese, orchids represented courage for warriors, giving these tattoos the meaning of bravery and strength.

Lotus Flower Tattoos

Lotus flowers make for quite masculine tattoos are often associated with the East.

The tattoos are often designed to be symmetrical when they are by themselves, which indicates perfection.

The tattoos’ meaning of perfection is linked to both Buddhism (signifying enlightenment), Christianity and Hinduism.

Specifically, white lotus flower tattoos refer to how lotus flowers stay white even in dirty waters, signifying purity of heart and therefore meaning the ability to remain faithful to your beliefs.

Additionally, peace is a general meaning of the lotus flower tattoo that is not attached to a specific design.

Any lotus flower tattoo therefore could refer to your desire for a more peaceful existence.

Lavender Tattoos

In ancient Rome, lavender was considered to provide freshness as well as purity of the mind since it was a sacred flower.

Perhaps due to their ancient beliefs, lavender tattoos with the design of a sprig of lavender represent the purification of the mind and body as well as purity in the soul.

Lavender tattoos also represent overwhelming feelings of happiness in response to being at peace with the world and yourself.

A lavender tattoo may represent your ability to lift your own spirits or to look on the bright side.

When a lavender tattoo is designed with rich blues or purples, it symbolizes lavender’s calming capabilities and represents how important it is for you to be at peace with yourself.

Hibiscus Tattoos

The center of a hibiscus flower explodes into a charming group of pollen centers stacked in a way that is pleasing to the eye.

Floral tattoo artists have many renditions of this relative symmetry in this highly feminine tattoo.

Hibiscus tattoos are closely related to island life, meaning feelings of relaxation and days full of sun.

This is probably because they typically grow on islands and the hibiscus is Hawaii’s state flower.

These tattoos also represent happiness and living a meaningful life.

As this is a feminine flower tattoo, it can symbolize the delicate and beautiful nature of women.

Women often receive this tattoo to enhance their own beauty.

Daffodil Tattoos

The daffodil is one of the first flowers to bloom in springtime.

Undoubtedly because of this, daffodil tattoos symbolize renewal and rebirth, acting as a flower tattoo to receive at the start of something new in life.

Their yellow color is also significant.

The color yellow often symbolizes cheerfulness and joy, as does the daffodil tattoo.

In mythological stories, the daffodil in one story teaches us not to be vain, so a daffodil tattoo may symbolize your modesty about appearances.

Whether the design is in color or black and grey, this tattoo generally represents hope for a promising future with an optimistic spirit.

Cherry Blossom Tattoos

A highly feminine tattoo, cherry blossom tattoos are mainly associated with Japanese culture.

For the Japanese, these tattoos of ‘sakura’ represent how delicate beauty is as well as the miracle of aesthetics in general.

The Japanese often even today use wood blocks to make the design of the ‘sakura’ tattoo.

The result is a soft pink flowering tree tattoo or branch symbolizing how fleeting beauty is found in nature.

Also fleeting are butterflies, which are often added as a design element to cherry blossom tattoos.

The two together symbolize how beauty will pass you by in an instant.

Lilac Tattoos

All around the world, people receive lilac tattoos because of their aesthetics and meaning.

Someone may get a lilac tattoo if they want to get in touch with their childhood.

Lilacs can symbolize innocence, and tattoos of this flower can represent your desire to keep your imagination and purity even as you age.

Sometimes placed in a secret location, lilac tattoos can also symbolize a long lost love of someone who broke your heart.

Another meaning of lilac tattoos is the surety that life will go your way, or in other words to bring confidence through life.

Peony Tattoos

Peony tattoos are designed in many colors, with or without a stem, as a part of a large work, or alongside birds or animals.

They are commonly part of large Japanese flower tattoos where they represent a dominating male presence.

The flower is also common in Chinese mythology, giving the tattoos the meaning of standing up for yourself, as well as beauty, honor, and abundance.

One popular design is the peony with a rose, which celebrates romance and femininity.

Therefore, this is a flower tattoo that clearly can be meant for either sex, depending on its design.

Lily Tattoos

The lily tattoo, commonly for women, is often designed with stems that are shaped in elegant curves matching the curl of its petals.

The lily tattoo carries with it an abundance of meanings– some are even opposites.

For example, the lily tattoo symbolizes sexuality and fertility, but can also represent chastity, innocence, purity, or the most damning one perhaps, the Virgin Mary.

It may seem difficult to choose a tattoo with such a contradiction; however, the lily is just like any other tattoo– you have to pick the meaning that’s right for you.

The lily tattoo isn’t limited to those qualities; it also is commonly known to represent prosperity and gracefulness.

Daisy Tattoos

Although daisies only come in one color (unless you add food coloring), tattoos of the daisy can come in pretty much any color including simple black and grey.

Aside from those who receive a daisy tattoo because it’s a symbol of the month of April, the tattoo largely represents happiness and friendship.

Its typical white color can also signify innocence and purity therefore you may get this tattoo to represent being in touch with your youthfulness.

Additionally, especially when the daisy is pink or red, the tattoo represents a passion for romance and can be received in honor of a loved one.

As for the typical gender of a client wanting a daisy tattoo, this flower shows a more feminine side.

Poppy Flower Tattoos

Poppy flower tattoo design is unique because the petals can either be shown to have dimension or appear flat with their center protruding.

These tattoos most often show their bold orange-red color with a dark green stem and leaves.

When the tattoo design includes two poppy flowers on the same stem, it represents two lovers linked forever.

This would be a great tattoo to receive on an important anniversary or as a wedding gift.

The flat petaled poppy design we mentioned often symbolizes World War I veterans.

Otherwise, the flower tattoo typically means you are a free spirit and a strong person.

Tulip Tattoos

Many tattoo artists play with the multi-layered nature of the tulip by using high-contrast, in color or black and grey, to make the tulip look unique.

Admittedly, as much as they try, the tulip’s look does not change much from design to design.

This does not stop the tulip from making a gorgeous tattoo (and does not stop them from trying).

As for its meaning, tulip tattoos change in meaning depending on the color.

For example, red tulip tattoos represent passion and romance, and yellow tulip tattoos mean joy.

As you can see, the tulip tattoo’s meaning is actually completely dependent on its color, so it’s important to pick the right design for you.

Magnolia Tattoos

Interestingly, the magnolia flower tattoo design rarely includes its tree.

Typically, the flower or flowers are illustrated on a flowering branch, and unless the tattoo is black and grey, the flower is always a light pink.

The flower tattoo symbolizes a long life or being alive for eternity.

This tattoo could mean to you the belief in living beyond life on earth due to your religious beliefs.

This flower is known for its durability– though it’s feminine, it’s not a delicate flower.

Due to its strength, it represents bold beauty that can look pleasing while at the same time be a force of nature.

Dandelion Tattoos

Typically in black and grey or yellow, the dandelion flower tattoo is a simple flower that is considered a weed to many.

However, to those who chose to get a dandelion tattoo, it is much more than that.

To start, there is a tradition in many cultures to blow the seeds of the dandelion into the wind which grants the person one wish.

Due to this myth, the dandelion tattoo symbolizes dreams coming true and hope for the future.

People also get this tattoo to stay in touch with their childhood because this practice of making a wish is something children often do.

Camellia Tattoos

The camellia tattoo is either pink, pinkish-orange, or black and grey, and quite a uniquely beautiful tattoo.

If you don’t want to get something as common as a rose, a camellia tattoo is a great option as they have similar enveloping petals with a slight twist.

In Chinese culture, the camellia flower represents the love two people have for each other, so the flower would be a great tattoo for someone who wants to honor their spouse.

In fact, like the rose, camellia tattoos tend to symbolize everything that has to do with love: romance, passion, and desire are typical meanings of this tattoo.

If you want your tattoo to symbolize the patience that goes along with love, a white camellia tattoo is right for you.

Iris Tattoos

The iris tattoo has to be one of the most unique-looking flower tattoos due to its shape and deep violet color.

In fact, without those two elements of the design, the iris would be hardly recognizable.

The main theme with iris tattoo meanings is wisdom, so this tattoo is recommended for someone who is wise enough to realize how important it is to be wise!

Another important meaning of this tattoo is hope.

An iris tattoo can represent your hope for peace, a better life, love, or anything that is important to you.

One last meaning that’s significant is faith in the religion of your choosing.

Sweet Pea Tattoos

Sweet pea tattoos can be designed with various colors in mind– but typically, purple and pink.

The flower’s wispy petals appear extremely delicate even in tattoo form.

Interestingly, sweet peas typically represent some sort of departure, whether it be for a little while or forever.

This would be a great tattoo to get in honor of someone who has passed away.

A sweet pea tattoo could also be a symbol of your own goodbyes said to a certain location, such as leaving home to move someplace else.

Due to their delicate petals, this flower tattoo also means that life itself is fleeting but that when we say goodbye it is not forever– perhaps we will meet again one day.

Cornflower Tattoos

Cornflower tattoos show the flower’s splendid choppy petals and long green stems.

It is popular to find cornflower tattoos designed in a watercolor style or with a look that’s natural and seamlessly beautiful.

This flower can be a symbol of loyalty, especially for women, and this represents a type of warm love that is true and never dull.

This would be a great tattoo to get if you are in love and want to remember the person’s romantic qualities and the times you’ve had with them.

Along with this theme, cornflower tattoos can represent marriage or even a long-term friendship.

Some may receive a cornflower tattoo as a marriage gift to their significant other.

When there are two cornflowers together in a tattoo it symbolizes a similar notion.

The two cornflowers represent two people in love for eternity.

Wildflower Tattoos

Wildflower tattoos represent why these are flowers often spoken of in the plural– a flower is rarely seen alone in a wildflower tattoo.

Perhaps this is because there are so many types of wildflowers that this type of tattoo is not complete without showing a few of them.

Usually, they are designed in a sort of bouquet, or a loose arrangement displayed with an aesthetic composition.

Wildflower tattoos symbolize joy because they pop up within the grass or in the dirt in between rocks as a surprising sight.

One does not expect to see a wildflower in nature, but when they do, they are a special thing.

For the same reason, they represent wonder and mystery.

However, this type of tattoo could also mean you are a ‘wild child’ and view the world differently and without a care for societal norms.

Dahlia Tattoos

The dahlia flower is highly dynamic in that it can be only a foot tall or as tall as a man.

A tattoo of this flower can come in purple, red, orange, or even blue.

When represented in a tattoo, the dahlia symbolizes the kind of strength that comes from inside your head, heart, or perhaps even your soul.

If you are someone who gets stressed out easily, you may want to get a dahlia tattoo to help you remember to use every ounce of your strength to remain resolute.

Another meaning of the dahlia tattoo is being a bit of an adventure addict.

You may be someone who wants to be different.

This meaning can be extended to your relationships, in that you desire a partner who is a unique person.

Bird of Paradise Tattoos

Bird of paradise tattoos are as bright, unusual, and tropical as the flower itself.

First of all, if you are getting this tattoo you are a unique individual.

There are many flower tattoos out there, but few like this one.

Not only that, but this tattoo represents creativity because of its many colors and special kind of beauty.

If you consider yourself an artist, a bird of paradise tattoo is one of many ways to express yourself and your feelings about how important art forms are to you.

Another meaning of this flower tattoo is beauty.

Since the bird of paradise is such a rare and wonderful sight, having a tattoo of this flower is both an aesthetic symbol and a representation of an appreciation for beauty.

Forget Me Not Tattoos

Forget me not tattoos can be designed in ways that are unexpected.

This tattoo is typically for women, perhaps because its meaning is centered on grace and love.

In fact, sometimes the flowers are even arranged in a tattoo in the shape of a heart.

When discussing the meaning of forget me not tattoos, its important to remember their name and what it represents.

It comes from multiple stories in which the flower is forgotten and asks God not to forget to provide it with a name or a color.

God then reaches out to help the forget me not.

Therefore, this is a great tattoo for someone to get for many reasons, including having faith, disabilities, or uniqueness.

Freesia Tattoos

Freesia tattoos are done in a wide range of colors and designs, but what these flower tattoos share is they are often small and most commonly found by the ankle or on the forearm.

The freesia is the flower of a Sagittarius, therefore the tattoo carries with it traits of that sign such as a sense of adventure, honesty, truth-seeking, and a view that life is all about the big picture.

White freesias represent purity and around the United States decade of the 1950’s were commonly used in marriage ceremonies.

However, any freesia tattoo can symbolize the strength of loyalty between two partners.

Plumeria Tattoos

Plumeria tattoos allow for a dynamic design because of the flower’s multi-colored petals.

Although not the most common flower, there’s great reason to get this tattoo because it represents a love of life and the ability to remain happy through difficult circumstances.

The flower represents the Mayans and Hawaiians in their cultures.

It is also important to note that plumeria flowers are often found by the ocean, so this is a great tattoo for someone to get if they love water or going to the beach.

Aside from a love for the sea, a plumeria tattoo typically represents an absolute joy for life, which we could all use a little more of.

Main Themes in Flower Tattoos

• Skull & Flower Tattoos

There are so many ways to incorporate flowers into a skull tattoo!

This combination is always interesting because it provides an intrinsic duality of the beauty and positivity of a flower, and the dark symbolism involved in skull imagery.

This tattoo design means that you share something that all humans have in common– a good side and a bad side.

You may get this tattoo because you want to emphasize that you are one with yourself and have reached a level of enlightenment that shows you have accepted all the sides of yourself.

• Flowers & Sugar Skull Tattoos

When flowers are placed with a sugar skull tattoo, the meaning is similar to that of a regular skull and flower tattoo.

However, the sugar skull comes with the symbolism of Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday meant to honor those who have passed positively.

Therefore, rather than just a dark side to life, this tattoo symbolizes death itself as being part of everyone’s experiences.

• Butterfly and Flower Tattoos

Both butterflies and flowers are uniquely beautiful and colorful.

Combining them in a tattoo makes a masterpiece of delicate grace and aestheticism.

This tattoo design means that you appreciate the beauty of nature and how that is reflected in yourself.

Not only are you making your body more beautiful by adding a butterfly tattoo and flower tattoo, but you are eliciting femininity.

• Floral Butterfly Tattoos

This design of tattoo involves a butterfly’s body being overcome by flowers within its wings and body.

This kind of tattoo is received mainly for its aesthetic values.

However, there is also symbolism in the fact that beauty itself is intrinsic in everything in nature and can be viewed as one amazing creation.

• Half Butterfly Half Flower Tattoos

When tattoo designs combine two elements of beauty, their aesthetic qualities are often enhanced by each other and make a beautiful and unique creation.

This is true with the half butterfly half flower tattoo, where the flower tattoo is often placed as part of one wing of the butterfly.

This design compares the flowers and the one remaining wing of the butterfly, taking a look at how neither is greater than the other, and therefore beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

• Birds and Flowers Tattoos

Birds not only place a new level of interest in the design of a flower tattoo, but they add an element of being one with nature.

A bird and flower tattoo represents a higher consciousness related to whichever flower is present in the tattoo.

Bird tattoos also symbolize freedom because of their ability to move far distances easily through the sky, so when they rest on a flower it means that you feel free to express your beauty in any fashion and that you don’t feel as though there are any limitations to expressivity.

• Hummingbird and Flower Tattoos

This tattoo design has different earnings depending on the flower used.

For example, the hummingbird tattoo is often known to symbolize love, so when paired with a rose, its meaning is a strong love for someone special or an idealization of romance itself.

This tattoo in certain contexts can also mean that you have a lot of energy and excitement for new things, just as the hummingbird does for a new flower.

• Owl and Flower Tattoos

Often, flower tattoos symbolize pure joy.

So when they are paired with an owl tattoo, they represent the joy that comes with wisdom and intelligence in life.

Becoming wiser allows you to also become at peace with your surroundings and with what’s going on inside your head.

From experience, we gain insight and therefore happiness.

This tattoo can also represent intelligence itself, showing that you value knowledge.

• Lace Flower Tattoos

Lace flower tattoos add an intense aestheticism to an already beautiful flower.

However, remember, lace is delicate– at times even sensual.

This tattoo design represents both beauty and femininity in the highest sense.

This is a tattoo to get if you are in touch with your femininity and can be designed in a way that shows that you embrace the delicate side or that you are one with your bold personality.

• Paisley Flower Tattoos

Paisley tattoos are all about personal growth– this fits in well with a flower, which is all about growing.

Really, any plant paired with paisley would symbolize improvement of one’s self through learning.

What’s great about this tattoo design is that every flower symbolizes something different, and therefore can add to the meaning of growth and define exactly how you have matured.

This tattoo could be a reminder to yourself that life is change and we all move through it– life never stays the same.

• Floral Cross Tattoos

The floral cross tattoo commonly uses roses in the design because this tattoo for Christians represents love for God and for the life we live with him.

Importantly, this tattoo also symbolizes how Jesus died on the cross and came back to life, as the cross represents his sacrifice and the flower represents new growth of life and rebirth.

• Floral Heart Tattoos

Using flowers to create a heart in a tattoo can have many meanings, all highly positive and feminine.

This design can mean that you are expressing your femininity and celebrating beauty.

It can also refer to your love for all the wonderful creations on Earth.

Perhaps the strongest meaning of this tattoo by far is to love yourself and know every day that no matter what, you are beautiful.

• Anatomical Heart with Flower Tattoos

An anatomical heart tattoo’s meaning is slightly obvious– a heart usually means love, whether it is directed at a specific person, yourself, or a love for life.

Adding flowers to this design could be just decoration.

However, it also can mean, depending on the specific flower, that you have a love for life in general and a love for the growth we all experience through life.

• Moon and Flower Tattoos

Moon tattoos are typically seen as feminine and are associated with magic, fertility, and cyclical cycles, among other things.

Moon and flower tattoos are therefore packed with meaning and can represent something different depending on each design.

This tattoo celebrates femininity, the cycle of life, and the duality of the unknown magic of the moon, and the tangibility of picking a flower.

There lies another duality in the way that the moon constantly changes and flowers change until they die, representing together how life is infinite yet mortal.

• Floral Crescent Moon Tattoos

The crescent moon is known to represent the change that happens with the moon and means good things are to come.

Whether the crescent is adorned with flowers or composed completely of flowers, this tattoo design is a celebration of life.

Often, butterflies or birds are added to this design.

This further adds to this tattoo’s meaning of life being beautiful and change being a part of it that must be embraced.

• Floral Mother & Daughter Tattoos

Choosing a flower that both a mother and a daughter like for a tattoo can be a challenge.

Not only can someone like a flower simply for its beauty but they may be attached to its meaning.

Any flower can be great for this design– a rose for your love for each other, a daisy for everlasting happiness– it all depends on what you want to dedicate yourselves to in your relationship.

Generally, this tattoo means you have a strong relationship that will grow throughout the years.

• Snake and Flower Tattoos

A snake and flower tattoo is often one that is dualistic in meaning– the beauty and the beast, the pretty and the ugly, the evil and the good, the sinister and the benign.

Snake tattoos always have a counterculture edge that is not softened by flowers, rather, flowers add more complexity to their design.

This tattoo can mean that you feel that your personal complexities are important and provide you with a fresh perspective on life.

• Aztec Flower Tattoos

The Aztec flower is associated with the Goddess Xochiquetzal, who is related to art, love, beauty, among other things.

It was important when celebrating this Goddess to express your truth through art and to pay attention to your desires.

An Aztec flower tattoo means just that– you value artistic expression as well as creativity in general.

• Flower Tattoos with Names

A flower is a great way to further personalize a name tattoo.

Typography can’t express someone’s personality nearly as well as a specific flower that represents someone’s main values.

For example, if you are always happy, you may want to get a sunflower next to your name as a tattoo design.

Or, if you are getting a name tattoo in honor of someone else, the flower you choose may relate to what type of relationship you have with that person.

A common example is getting a significant other’s name tattooed with a rose to show that you are receiving that tattoo because you are deeply in love with them.

• Flower Tattoos with Name in Stem

Flower tattoos sometimes are physically connected to a name by using their stem in the design to connect to the lettering tattoo.

This version of a flower design is not much more significant in meaning than if the flower is next to the name as we discussed above.

This tattoo design also means the name of the person relates to the meaning of the flower and can be received for yourself or in honor of someone else.

If anything, this design signifies that the flower is more important to the meaning of the tattoo than the previous design because it is connected to the text.

• Flower Vase Tattoos

Flower vase tattoos can have a traditional look or be designed with a modern flare.

They can have multiple types of flowers in their design, which is more general and refers to great beauty and femininity.

Otherwise, the vase in the tattoo may contain flowers of one kind, and in that case, the meaning is completely dependent on that flower’s meaning.

Flowers in a vase show that they have already been picked and therefore will not last much longer.

There is also an opportunity to decorate the vase with all sorts of symbolism.

• Dragon and Flower Tattoos

Dragon tattoos are known for meaning wisdom and strength as well as creation and destruction.

More often than not, in this design, the dragon represents destruction while the flower or flowers stand-in for the meaning of creation.

This design can also symbolize the duality between being masculine and being feminine.

• Vine and Flower Tattoos

When the vine of a flower is one of the focal points in a tattoo, it refers back to the fact that a flower is a plant that is alive before it is picked.

It also shows, especially with roses, that flowers are connected and part of a living organism.

Vine and flower tattoos symbolize vitality and that growth in life is beautiful.

• Clock and Flower Tattoos

Clock and flower tattoos represent the love one has through life.

Through the passage of time, we experience love for many people, romantic or familial, and this love fades just as it begins.

The time that the clock is showing may have significance, as well as the type of flower.

Clock and flower tattoos also symbolize love for life because the flower represents enjoyment for growth and the clock represents life and time itself.

• Floral Dream-catcher Tattoos

Dream-catcher tattoos are based upon Native American tradition and represent having good dreams, a good life, and drawing positivity to your aspirations.

Adding floral decoration to a dream-catcher tattoo makes the tattoo emphasize the part about positivity– this tattoo design is a way to bring goodness to your life and increase the chance of achieving your goals.

• Flower Bouquet Tattoos

One typically gives a bouquet to someone special that they care about.

Therefore, a flower bouquet tattoo represents someone special in your life and that you want to celebrate with a tattoo.

This design can also refer to romance because a bouquet is often something that represents adoration for another person.

Therefore, one may receive this tattoo as a symbol of love for your significant other.

• Animal and Flower Tattoos

When a flower is placed in the design of an animal tattoo, the animal tends to be the focus of the design.

However, the flower or flowers add something special to its meaning.

Animal and flower tattoos symbolize the best qualities of that animal– the qualities that elicit the theme of friendship, love, and beauty.

Animal with flower tattoos also represent a connection to the wonder of nature and can be received for your love of both nature and the animal that you have chosen.

• Flower & Lion Tattoos

Like most animal flower tattoos, that of the lion brings out the best in its animal nature.

Lions are known to be ferocious beings, always preparing for the hunt and kill of the prey.

They are known to be strong and brave.

When they are surrounded by flowers in a tattoo, we are reminded of the opposite notion which is their grace and the beauty of their long manes.

Flower and lion tattoos can mean that you believe everyone has positive energy and a bright side to themselves– a very positive attribute that would be wonderful to share with the world.

• Floral Anchor Tattoos

Anchors are in the sea, while flowers are on the land.

These two opposite symbols pair quite well together.

When the flowers chosen are roses, the floral anchor tattoo symbolizes love and loyalty.

Any flower paired with an anchor can mean honor and loyalty towards the ones you love.

However, the meaning of this tattoo design can change greatly depending on the flower you choose.

One of the great things about this tattoo is it can be feminine or masculine and can be applied in a multitude of design concepts.

• Flower with Stem Tattoos

Flower with stem tattoo designs emphasize the origin of the flower’s growth, the stem, and therefore can represent rebirth, vitality, and growth.

This design also symbolizes how each flower bud comes from a unique stem and grows to create a wonderful and natural work of art.

A flower with stem tattoo can represent your love for nature and all of the beautiful creations that exist on Earth.

If you are a bit of a wild child, this tattoo is for you.

• Floral Sword Tattoos

Popular among men and women, one floral sword tattoo that is highly popular is a sword stabbing a rose, which symbolizes rebellious youth or the duality of the harsh and the delicate.

Other floral sword tattoos can represent that oppositive attract, can symbolize a powerful love, or mean balance in life, beauty, or peace.

This is the kind of tattoo design that uses dualities to express strong meanings that are absolutely great for a tattoo.

• Dried Flower Tattoos

Some think that dried flowers are beautiful because their shriveled-up petals are eternally beautiful.

For those who vibe with this concept, a dried flower tattoo is an excellent option.

This tattoo contains many meanings.

For example, a dried flower tattoo can represent the fact that youth eventually dies and that you are at peace with aging.

This tattoo can also mean eternal life through your legend that you leave behind and your hope too, like others, to leave behind something special that people will remember you for.

• Hand Holding Flower Tattoos

This type of tattoo can be very surreal, look like a painting, or even look exotic or abstract.

The tattoo essentially means that you are holding beauty in your hands– the beauty of life is within you and your appreciation for aesthetics goes beyond only mere superficiality.

This tattoo means that you love beauty just as you love the spirits, Gods, or God because flowers are one of life’s creations that is spectacular.

• Flower with Ribbon Tattoos

Flower with ribbon tattoos are a beautiful way to represent a group of flowers that are meaningful to you.

Much like a bouquet tattoo, you can add multiple types of flowers or stick to one type– each flower having its own distinct meaning.

The ribbon ties the flowers together and metaphorically holds your love, hope, or beauty together showing that you are protected by the tattoo and are holding it together.

• Blooming Flower Stages Tattoos

It is interesting to see a tattoo where flowers are blooming more and more with each image.

What a wonderful way to show growth!

This growth can be related to growing stronger in beauty as you age rather than the typical notion that beauty dissipates.

This tattoo can also represent that you started off in life small and weak as a child, but you are slowly growing into a strong person who is capable of anything.

• Floral Bow Tattoos

A bow and arrow tattoo signifies some sort of tension that is occurring in your life or from your past.

The flowers on the floral bow tattoo symbolize your peace with that tension, or perhaps, the beauty in having the strength to overcome the problems in your life.

This tattoo design is for someone who has great strength and has overcome obstacles in life.

• Floral Fan Tattoos

A fan is a symbol of beauty because they are always highly decorative.

They are also typically used by women in the past to cool off or to add to their fashion sense.

Floral fan tattoos symbolize the epitome of beauty.

Not only does this tattoo have an aesthetic value, but it also deepens the connection between a woman and her sense of style and beauty.

Flower Tattoo Styles

Florals are popular tattoo choices for their visual beauty and splendor, but they also provide innumerable meanings.

In general, flowers represent femininity, love, beauty, and growth.

However, every flower has a different meaning depending on its type, stage of growth, and color.

Of course, every flower is obviously unique in its appearance, but also has its own list of symbolism.

Before you get your ink, make sure you know that specific flower’s commonly perceived meaning.

• American Traditional Flower Tattoos

American traditional flower tattoos are some of the most widely recognized pieces, thanks to their highly saturated blocks of colors, simple 2D designs, and bold black outlines.

Traditional tattoos tend to have a more masculine appearance, but flowers add a feminine flair, slightly softening these bold images.

With each flower having its own specific meaning, the creative design options for these tattoos are endless and suitable for absolutely anyone.

Choosing to receive a flower tattoo in the American traditional tattoo style may not be a unique choice but it certainly is worth it.

These designs are intriguing, edgy, and sometimes dark.

They reveal about the person getting it that they appreciate a timeless classic, meaning beauty in a simplistic form.

An American traditional flower tattoo is meant for men or women and means that you are loyal and an old soul.

Traditional rose tattoos are as classic as you can get, while hibiscus tattoos are more unique and whimsical.

If you’re looking for a gentler, more ladylike flower, you might opt for peony tattoos, or for a constant, beaming reminder to be more optimistic, try sunflower tattoos.

Vibrant, bold, and unmatched in versatility and personal expression for any gender, traditional flower tattoos are all kinds of beautiful.

• Watercolor Flower Tattoos

Watercolor flower tattoos are a design chosen to enhance the aestheticism of the flower in a painterly way.

This loose design is one that is creative– it means you are a free spirit.

A flower that is in the watercolor tattoo style is a statement that you are an artist or a creative thinker.

You think outside of the box and aren’t afraid to show off your abilities.

• Geometric Flower Tattoos

The geometric tattoo style is another tattoo style that is for free spirits who like to think outside the box.

However, the geometry of the flower shows that you have a brain for math and science.

Although you may be creative, you have strengths that others may not even dream of involving in-the-box thinking.

Therefore, you should get a geometric flower tattoo if you are dynamic and have an appreciation for the beauty of flowers and nature.

• Japanese Flower Tattoos

In Japanese tattoos, the tattoo design of flowers has a rich history.

Lotus flowers, peonies, and chrysanthemums are favorites in Japanese flower tattoos.

Their meanings are highly influenced by Buddhism, often referring to the circle of life, involving the constant rebirth of people, animals, and plants and how beautiful this natural cycle is.

• Micro-realist Flower Tattoos

Super tiny, microscopic flower tattoos are precious little things that can go behind the ear, on the wrist, or even be used as an ankle tattoo.

Is there any special meaning to this design of flower tattoo?

Well, essentially, the meaning is just as it seems: nature is so powerful that it can make beautiful designs of its own (in small packages).

• Sketchy Flower Tattoos

Sketchy flower tattoos are typically in black ink only and are an abstract expression of mood and feeling.

Due to the black ink, a sketchy tattoo can be moody and sometimes lean towards the dark side, which is interesting for a flower tattoo, as flower tattoos are mostly bright and cheery.

Therefore, whatever the meaning of that specific flower is, it leads to the more complex dark side of that meaning.

For example, a sketchy rose tattoo would represent death and heartbreak.

• Neo-traditional Flower Tattoos

Neo-traditional flower tattoos tend to be another design that is on the darker side of things.

They mean that you are not trying to be ultra-traditional, yet have the reins pulled in.

The colors are muted, which is why the Neo-traditional tattoo style tends to show the darker even more sinister side of that flower’s meaning.

• Tribal Flower Tattoos

Not too common of a flower style, tribal flower tattoos relate back in the day to tribes who got black-inked large pieces.

In fact, these tribal flower tattoos are often a piece of the puzzle in a sleeve or large back piece.

Tribal tattoos add a softer meaning to the piece, almost like a yin and yang symbol when contrasted with harsher tribal patterns.

When alone, these tattoos symbolize the very essence of the flower: beauty and femininity.

• Realistic Flower Tattoos

People get realistic flower tattoos if they want to show all of the actual details of a flower on their skin.

If you are getting this tattoo, you have to be obsessed with this particular flower.

It also means that this flower’s meaning is extremely important to you and screams that meaning out for everyone to see.

For example, if you received a realistic flower tattoo of a sunflower, you are saying as loudly as you can that happiness is the most important thing to you.

• Black-work Flower Tattoos

Black-work flower tattoos is a general term for flower tattoos done in black ink in an interesting way not specifically defined by a common style.

Since this type of tattoo isn’t neatly defined by a common title, it’s hard to say any meaning that covers all of the designs.

However, black-work tattoos indeed emphasize the shape of the flower rather than its colors which is typically the focal point.

Therefore, the meaning of that flower is more pronounced, as opposed to its aesthetic value (not to say these tattoos aren’t beautiful, too).

• Minimalist Flower Tattoos

The delicate nature of minimalistic flower tattoos allows for the expression of the beauty, humility, loyalty, and other meanings involved with this style of tattoo.

Minimalistic flower tattoos symbolize being powerful even when you’re small, and having a voice even though it’s not loud.

Many people get these tattoos because they are beautiful, but also because they mean that anyone and everyone can be beautiful.

• Negative Space Flower Tattoos

Any negative space tattoo looks interesting and catches one’s eye no matter what.

Flower negative space tattoos are especially cool-looking, and, again, emphasize the texture and shape of the flower because it’s void of color.

That does not mean that these tattoos are void of meaning– they can mean that beauty is not always black and white, but completely relative to the person.

• Abstract Flower Tattoos

Abstract flower tattoos are for those who want to really show off a certain flower on their body.

These tattoos can be highly elaborate and colorful.

They essentially mean that you are proud of your body (proud enough to draw attention to it) and aren’t afraid to tell yourself and others that you are beautiful.

• Stick and Poke Flower Tattoos

Stick and poke tattoos are one of the more rare forms of tattoo art but not to be forgotten.

When flowers are tattooed in the stick and poke form, they are often very simply illustrated and are on the smaller side.

They mean that just because something or someone is delicate doesn’t mean they are not capable of doing great things.

• Frame Tattoos

Framed flower tattoos are artistic and unique tattoos.

They often look like a painting the way that the flowers create a landscape inside of the frame.

Essentially, the frame holds a small piece of nature, a place where the flowers in nature stand still.

Those who receive this tattoo have a love of nature because frame flower tattoos mean that you appreciate all life and view it as beautiful and capable of positive growth.

• Crayon Tattoos

Crayon tattoos are a highly unique concept and when applied to the flower tattoo they become a playful and colorful creation.

Due to its fun nature, the crayon flower tattoo’s meaning is that you are a creative person who colors outside the lines.

This tattoo is a symbol of a bold declaration of artistic expression.

Flower Tattoo Ideas

• Black & Grey Flower Tattoos

Black and grey flower tattoos stand out among other flower tattoos because of their incredible shading.

There are many smaller divisions of this design, such as realistic ones or abstract versions of this tattoo design.

This is a great idea for a tattoo because it symbolizes the ability of flowers to be dynamic and have many textures and form many shapes.

In other words, this tattoo design means that you are a person who has many sides to your personality.

• Matching Flowers Tattoos

If you are considering receiving matching tattoos, using flowers as the subject matter is an excellent idea.

Why, you may ask?

Well, flowers symbolize loyalty and friendship, so if those are values you want to represent in your matching tattoos, go for flowers!

Matching flower tattoos represent a long-lasting friendship or relationship that is full of happiness and trust.

• Flower Sleeve Tattoos

Having a flower sleeve tattoo is a bold move.

Some prefer black and grey, while others go for a big colorful tattoo.

There is no common theme among flower sleeves as far as meaning– there are infinite ways to create symbolism in these tattoos.

The best way to create something meaningful for yourself in a design is to choose a type of flower or flowers that have a meaning you enjoy and choose a style that relates to what you want to express.

• Floral Band Tattoos

Floral band tattoos are great if you want your tattoo to go all the way around part of your body.

These tattoos can be found in many different variations and styles, from American traditional to delicate tiny tattoos.

These tattoos mean that you are serious about the flower/flowers that you chose to put on your body because you are allowing them to cover a good portion of your skin.

Tattoo Size

• Tiny Flower Tattoos

Who wouldn’t want a tiny tattoo?

And, what better of a tiny tattoo to get than of a flower!

This flower tattoo design is a size that implies that you are a dainty person who not only is pretty and sweet but interesting and intelligent.

This is because tiny tattoos have the duality of showing cuteness yet are worn by a woman who knows what she wants and is smart enough to get it.

• Small Flower Tattoos

Having a small flower tattoo is quite similar to having a tiny tattoo, however, a bit bolder.

A small tattoo design would stand out on someone’s arm yet is no sleeve.

Small flower tattoos prove that you are more than willing to show off the meaningful flower placed on your body.

Whatever the meaning of the specific flower you chose is, a small flower tattoo means that you are not afraid to say that you are beautiful.

• Large Flower Tattoos

Having a large flower tattoo means that you clearly love that flower and the meaning that comes with it.

Any large tattoo becomes a bold a beautiful part of your body that’s hard to miss.

Large flower tattoos mean that you are too bold and beautiful and you aren’t afraid to show it.

They mean that you are the opposite of shy and are a force to be reckoned with.

Flower Tattoo Placement

These tattoos can range from a tiny finger tattoo to a humungous back piece, thanks to their incredible versatility.

Here are the most popular places to put these stunning floral tattoos.

• Flower Wrist Tattoos

Flower wrist tattoos are great for matching tattoos, tiny tattoos, or for representing any flower in a prominent spot on your body so that you see it every day.

That’s the thing about wrist tattoos–there’s not a day that goes by that you don’t see that tattoo.

Therefore, you want to pick a special one, and a flower is a great choice not only because of aesthetics but also because you can be reminded every single day about the meaning of the flower you choose.

Small tattoos are great introductions to tattooing if you’ve never been inked before, with the wrist providing a relatively painless spot for a little flower.

Because of their delicacy, floral tattoos will look fantastic here regardless of their size.

• Flower Ankle Tattoos

Let’s be honest, ankle tattoos are awesome.

They are perfect for someone who wants a tattoo but needs to be able to hide it if needed.

They are also perfect because they are a subtle placement which is great for a flower.

After all, the chosen design adds a little spark– a little taste — of flower power.

• Flower Forearm Tattoos

Flower forearm tattoos are playful and unique.

There’s a lot of room for creativity in the design.

This type of tattoo placement typically adds meaning on top of what the design itself already elicits.

The placement symbolizes being yourself and not being afraid to say how you feel and be who you want to be.

• Upper Arm Flower Tattoos

There are so many ways to design an upper arm tattoo!

Even the placement itself can be unique, by either placing the design almost on the shoulder or lower on the arm.

Of course, this placement idea includes a sleeve, which would be the boldest of these choices.

An upper arm flower tattoo means that you are expressing your beauty in your own way and desire a flower that compliments not only your personality but your complexion.

• Flower Tattoos on Shoulder Blade

The interesting part about any back placement is that everyone can admire your tattoo when clothes allow for it to be shown– everyone except for you!

Shoulder blade tattoos may be behind you, but they are at the forefront of your tattoo masterpieces because they represent a special spot on the body.

When you choose to put a flower tattoo on the shoulder blade, this means that you want others to appreciate its beauty and that your someone who enjoys decorating your body whether it be through fashion, jewelry, piercings, or of course, tattoos.

• Floral Back-piece Tattoos

Just like floral shoulder blade tattoos, floral back-pieces are not able to be seen by yourself, only those you choose to share it with.

However, the difference between them is that a back piece is large and takes a lot of money, effort, energy, and quite frankly guts to receive this tattoo.

Therefore, the meaning of a floral back-piece tattoo is that you are obsessed with expressing yourself in any way and want to display the art of your body because of your deep appreciation for it.

• Flower Spine Tattoos

Floral spine tattoos are interesting because they are often intricate in detail and follow the body in a way that is a work of art just in the placement itself.

Those who get flower spine tattoos have a unique appreciation for the beauty of art as well as of the body.

This tattoo idea is for someone who not only chooses a meaningful flower but desires to beautify their own body in a special way.

• Flower Thigh Tattoos

This may not always be true, but thigh tattoos can be somewhat sensual, especially when the subject matter is flowers.

The meaning of this flower tattoo placement is that you are a romantic at heart with a strong passion for everything about love.

This is especially true if you choose a rose thigh tattoo– you are not afraid to show off your love for love.

Depending on the tattoo design, you may also be adding some additional sex appeal to your body by placing flowers on your thigh.

• Flower Shoulder Tattoos

This is a common placement for both men and women and shows your chosen flower tattoo design in a spot that is likely to be seen by others (unless you’re wearing a sweater).

The meaning of this tattoo placement is simple: it means that you are a creative person who wants to share your free spirit with the world.

The shoulder is one of the best spots for a larger tattoo image that can be expanded in any direction.

If you’re looking to start a sleeve with several florals or plan to stick to just one flower tattoo, this area is a relatively painless location.

• Flower Leg Tattoos

If you really want to go for it, get a flower leg tattoo.

With this placement, it is important that you choose the correct flower, one that has a meaning that truly brings your soul pleasure and contentment.

This placement too suggests that you are a wild child.

Having a large flower on your leg shows that you are truly a unique person and means that you have a love for the arts and for nature.

• Flower Hand Tattoos

Both men and women receive flower tattoos on their hands for various reasons.

For men, they may be showing that they have a feminine side to themselves that they are not afraid to show– they are comfortable with the duality of one’s sexuality.

As for women, a flower tattoo on the hand shows their own femininity and that being a woman is important to them because they are proud to be pretty and lovely sometimes, but also strong when they want to be.

As one of the most famous spots for your flower tattoo, you can go as delicate or as detailed as you please.

Some opt for a single, long-stemmed rose tattoo on the palm or side of the hand, while others may wish to cover the entire back of the hand with a large, blossomed peony tattoo.

Regardless of your tattoo choice, it is sure to make a powerful statement when placed here.

• Flower Hip Tattoos

Now this is a sensual tattoo.

Flower tattoos on the hips screams beauty and romance!

This placement also shows that you are a bold person who is not afraid to show off their body and also appreciates beauty in all forms.

The design also says a lot about what you want to accomplish with this tattoo– you can go for a more romantic beautification of the body or really go for it and get a flower tattoo with lace or a snake to show off your sensual side.

• Flower Foot Tattoos

A flower foot tattoo is a great way to express your love for nature and creativity.

The beauty of a flower isn’t all just about aesthetics– a flower is a symbol of growth in nature that is important in meaning to everyone.

Receiving a flower tattoo on your foot means that you are one with the Earth and are proud of your own personal growth through life.

• Flower Sternum Tattoos

Sternum tattoos are fashionable, unique, and quite trendy at the moment.

It seems as though every woman celebrity adorns their body with a sternum tattoo.

This tattoo placement requires a bold choice of both design and receiving this tattoo in general.

However, it’s worth the risk, because flower sternum tattoos mean that you love yourself and know that no one is going to be more kind and loving to yourself other than, well, you!

• Flower Rib-cage Tattoos

A rib-cage tattoo of a flower is a unique way to show off your flower tattoo and makes for a lovely one.

Rib-cage tattoos, in general, tend to be an especially meaningful placement.

Therefore, the flower you choose for a flower rib-cage tattoo should be one that has an emphasis not on just beauty but mostly on what the flower symbolizes.

This symbol should relate to your greatest beliefs and aspirations.

• Flower Under-breast Tattoos

This sensual placement for a flower tattoo really stands out.

Often hidden and only seen in public when your wearing your bathing suit, this tattoo tends to offset the loud placement with a delicate design.

The meaning of this flower tattoo placement is that you are confident about your body and love yourself unconditionally.

• Flower Ear Tattoos

This interesting flower tattoo placement is in plain sight and really adds a lot of beauty to anyone who chooses it.

Stamping your ear with a gorgeous flower tattoo means that you appreciate beauty and aestheticism in general.

This tattoo placement means that you are not afraid to show your femininity and also look on the bright side of things.

• Flower Tattoos behind the Ear

This tattoo placement of the flower is more subtle than a flower ear tattoo and is highly common among women.

The reason this tattoo is so common is that you can have this tattoo and work in almost any profession.

The fact that it is hidden away behind the ear means that the meaning of that flower is enhanced in the direction of your secret feelings– those you rarely share with anyone else.

• Flower Neck Tattoos

This type of flower tattoo placement is a bit more on the rare side because of what society deems to be appropriate.

To hell with society! This is a great tattoo placement for a flower for both men and women.

For men, this tattoo means that you are a romantic at heart and are not afraid to show your affection in public.

For women, this tattoo means that you also are a romantic at heart but have a wild side that comes out when you least expect it.

• Flower Collarbone Tattoos

Flower collarbone tattoos are typically a great tattoo for women and say that you are in touch with your feminine side.

This placement of a flower tattoo also means that you are grateful for the world as it is, growth through life, and have peace within yourself.

And if you indeed have peace within yourself, that means you also have strength, which flower collarbone tattoos emphasize.

• Flower Elbow Tattoos

Floral tattoos are lovely on either side of the elbow, whether you wish to have the center of the flower in the indent of the joint or popping out of the middle of the bony exterior.

Perfect for circular tattoo designs especially, the elbow is a great spot for a flower on its own or to build up a sleeve tattoo.

• Traditional Flower Knee Tattoos

Adding an extra symbol of beauty and pain to your ink, knees are known for being sensitive and one of the more painful spots to get a tattoo.

With that said, they are also a fabulous place to show off your ink, with traditional flower tattoos fitting perfectly on the circular area.

Knee tattoos also provide the opportunity to expand up or down the leg if you’re looking for a larger tattoo piece.

Conclusion

These are only some of the flower tattoos that are popular at this time.

We have proved that flowers aren’t just for women and that their purpose is not just for beauty.

For example, the rose is common for people with both dominant masculine and feminine sides, and has so many meanings that we did not even have time to talk about aesthetics!

Flower tattoos have many stereotypes: they are assumed to be typically feminine tattoos and some are tattooed for aesthetic reasons alone.

Stereotypes aren’t always true.

The bottom line is flower tattoos are for anybody and have meaningful symbolism no matter how ‘pretty’ they are.

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Flower Tattoo FAQ

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