Are you thinking about getting a flower tattoo and wondering which one to choose? Do you want a floral design that has special meaning to you and reflects your personality?
I’m here to help you.
As a florist, the meanings of flowers and their unique characteristics are essential parts of my daily life! Today, I’m excited to share them with you so that you can choose one or more flowers that resonate with you for your future tattoo!
Flower tattoos are very trendy, universally appealing, and have the undeniable advantage of never going out of style. To find the flower that resonates with you, consider the symbolism behind your tattoo. What do you want it to say about you? Is it dedicated to someone special? For example, if you’re looking for a tattoo with a spiritual meaning, you might choose a Lotus flower. A Lily or a Rose would be perfect as a tribute to someone you’ve lost.
Curious to learn more? Keep reading to discover:
- The symbolism of floral tattoos
- How to safely embrace this trend
- Key considerations before getting a tattoo
- 10 examples of flowers along with their meanings
- Examples of flower tattoos and the plants that inspire them
Why Get a Flower Tattoo?
Because they are everywhere in art and in the nature around us, it’s no surprise that flowers are also a recurring theme in the history of tattooing. Early tattoos were primarily tribal designs, often abstract, that represented both the wildlife and flora surrounding the people who wore them.
Originally, it was about proudly showcasing your roots by getting a tattoo of a flower or a plant native to the place where you grew up.
Today, the tradition of floral tattoos has become a true trend, rooted in the bohemian and boho-chic spirit. Flowers evoke a return to nature and a desire for freedom. They can also express your love for nature and its diversity, as well as an interest in naturalistic art.
Since this is a universal pattern that’s easy to recognize and highly versatile, you can embrace it without worrying that it will go out of style in the coming decades!
Some Precautions to Take Before Getting Such a Tattoo
In recent years, there has truly been a democratization of tattoos: they are no longer just for tattoo artists or specific communities, and if they are subtle, anyone can proudly display them in their everyday lives.
However, this is still a permanent decision that you will carry on your skin for a lifetime. Therefore, before going through with it, I particularly advise you to:
➡️ Learn more about the artist’s work:
Every tattoo artist has a unique style. Before finalizing a tattoo design, don’t hesitate to ask to see the artist’s previous works—especially flowers—to make sure their style matches what you’re looking for.
➡️ Make sure that the person who will be tattooing you adheres to the essential hygiene practices necessary for your safety:
Feel free to ask how the session will go, what care will be needed afterward…
➡️ Freeing yourself for the day for your tattoo appointment:
Everyone reacts differently to getting a tattoo. So, especially if it’s your first tattoo, you might feel quite exhausted after your session. Make sure to allow yourself enough time to rest so that everything goes smoothly.
10 Ideal Flowers for a Tattoo
Have you decided to get a floral tattoo? Now it’s time to choose which flower will inspire you for this project!
👉 You can choose a single flower or a bouquet of flowers, which you might consider getting tattooed in the form of a flower crown. To learn all about this type of floral tattoo, check out our dedicated blog post that explores the significance of flower crown tattoos!
To help you with your choice, I’d like to present to you, in the following lines, a selection of flowers and their meanings.
The Rose, Queen of Flowers, for a Chic and Colorful Tattoo
The rose is a classic tattoo design that is often seen on both men and women. It is a beautiful flower, and its meaning varies depending on the colors:
- Yellow: Joy, Friendship
- White: Purity, Spirituality
- Red: Love, Passion, but also Memory
- Pink: Innocence, but also Resilience, Healing
- Blue: Mystery and the search for the impossible
- Black: Grief, Final Goodbye, memory of a loved one, whether they are deceased or not.
👉 In tarot, the Rose symbolizes balance. The beauty of its petals reflects hope and the beginning of a new era. In contrast, the thorns serve as a reminder of loss and a sad event.
🌹 The meaning of a rose tattoo – or any flower tattoo for that matter – will vary depending on whether the flower is still in bud, just starting to bloom, or fully open.
➡️ While a closed flower symbolizes a positive outlook towards the future, the design of a blossomed flower represents the past.
Flower Bouquets: Embracing a Rustic Charm
Small flowers often make for beautiful tattoos, characterized by their delicacy. Very feminine, they pair particularly well with the bohemian style and serve as a permanent reminder of your love for nature and the freedom it inspires in you.
Among these little flowers, you can find:
- The Forget-Me-Not
- The Baby's Breath
- The Wax Flower
- The Chamomile
- The Small Lilac Flowers
- … And many more!
👉 For a very boho-chic tattoo, don’t hesitate to mix flowers, delicate leaves, and grasses in a soft, country-style bouquet or flower crown! Worn on your shoulder or ankle, the result will be very elegant!
The Anemone: A Delicate and Protective Flower
This flower, which begins to bloom early in the spring, is highly valued by artists. Anemones come in various types, and their imperfections often enhance their beauty. Their delicate petals suggest fragility, while their symbolism leans more towards protection against illness and misfortune.
👉 In the East, this flower is sometimes seen as a bad omen. As a result, it’s not commonly depicted in tattoos of people from those regions of the world.
The Poppy: Express Your Bohemian Side
Like the smaller flowers mentioned earlier, these larger blooms are associated with nature and its wild side. They symbolize fertility, abundance, and also freedom.
A single Poppy flower symbolizes a sensitive and independent person, somewhat dreamy. Indeed, in the language of flowers, the Poppy is associated with the idea of finding hope in dreams.
⛪ For believers, the color red of the Poppy can be associated with the Passion of Christ and thus symbolizes faith.
The Lily, a Majestic Flower and Symbol of Renewal
Linked to royalty for centuries, this flower is symbolic of dignity and purity. It can also evoke femininity, particularly in relation to motherhood.
Finally, the Lily is often given on the occasion of a death, in memory of the deceased. A Lily tattoo can thus be made in memory of a lost loved one, with the hope of reuniting in the afterlife.
Lily of the Valley, a Lucky Flower
Offered on May Day as a good luck charm, this little flower is known for its delicate fragrance and the lightness of its tiny bells!
👉 According to a popular belief, a sprig of Lily of the Valley with 13 bells is said to bring eternal luck.
The Peony, a Positive Symbol
Highly admired for its lush beauty, the Peony is one of the favorite flowers among Americans. It is particularly gifted during Mother’s Day, just before the start of summer!
A floral tattoo featuring one or more peonies symbolizes good health, luck, and prosperity. This flower also evokes beauty and the fleeting nature of existence.
The peony is a recurring motif in Asian-style tattoos, particularly Japanese. It is often associated with animal or mythical figures such as:
- The dragon 🐉, which contrasts with its delicacy, thus creating a symbol of balance,
- The snake 🐍, representing masculinity, while the peony symbolizes femininity in this context,
- The hummingbird 🐦, which, when associated with the peony, creates a pattern that evokes gratitude for life.
The Cherry Blossom: Embracing the Fleeting Beauty of Life
Symbolizing Japan, cherry blossoms are a stunning motif for a tattoo, carrying a subtle and deep meaning. For anyone who has had the chance to admire them, the blooming of cherry trees is truly a natural spectacle, characterized by its fleeting nature. It is about celebrating the present moment and learning to appreciate beauty in its transient and elusive form.
This symbolism resonates with how Buddhists and Shinto practitioners view existence. A cherry blossom tattoo is therefore a nod to the spirituality of the Far East, reflecting one’s outlook on life!
A traditional Polynesian tattoo featuring Tiare or Hibiscus flowers
Whether it’s a love for exotic plants, a memory from a trip, or a nod to your heritage, exotic flowers make for beautiful tattoos. In Hawaii, the Hibiscus flower symbolizes royalty, respect, and power.
The Tiare flower symbolizes harmony. In Polynesian mythology, this flower was given to humans by the god Atea to encourage them to embrace a lifestyle that is more in tune with nature, respecting its balance.
👉 In Japan, the hibiscus flower represents sweetness and kindness.
The Lotus Flower, a Zen Symbol
Whether it’s tattooed on your back, on your solar plexus, or elsewhere on your body, the Lotus flower is a design associated with balance and serenity. This symmetrical flower pairs particularly well with a variety of geometric patterns.
Like the Rose, the symbolism of the Lotus flower varies by its color:
- White: Knowledge and spirituality,
- Red: Love, compassion, passion
- Purple: Tribute to Buddhist deities, mysticism, religion, and spirituality,
- Pink: Buddha’s Lotus flower, a symbol of Buddhism,
- Blue: The power of the mind over the body and matter.
Congratulations, you’ve now become an expert on the different meanings of flowers in tattoos! I hope this article has helped you create a floral tattoo that truly represents you!
Do you love floral patterns? Be sure to check out our wide range of decor and gift items on this theme in our specialized online store!