Flower Tattoos

Flower tattoos are for the most part a development of the past few decades, and testimony to the fact that it is now acceptable for a woman to get tattoos ( it wasn't always like this). A floral tattoo is often a good first tattoo for a woman who outgrew the age of the fake tattoo and wants something fairly subtle.

Flower tattoos can be pretty and rather feminine looking, but all the same there is considerable variety with regard to the style and overall look of the tattoo. They can be small and delicate or they can be big, bold, colorful and eclectic. You can have just a single flower or a chain of flowers.

But Flower tattoos are more than a pretty image on a pretty girl. Flowers are full of age-old symbolism (see further).

Flower tattoo designs are also popular amongst men, but then they are usually incorporated in a tribal design, or combined with a skull, cross or dagger. Hawaiian flowers are appropriate for a man’s tattoo as well.

Flowers in tattoo art are combined frequently with vines, butterflies, hummingbirds and ladybugs.

Flower Tattoo Designs

 

Lovely Red Rose Tattoo

The rose must be the oldest and most popular flower used for tattoo designs. Roses mean very different things for different people, but there are some traditional meanings:

Red roses stand for love and romance (as well as courage).

Pink roses mean grace and admiration.

White rose tattoos stand symbol for eternal love and innocence.

Rosebuds denote beauty and youth.

Many old school tattoos incorporate a rose image, and even on their own rose tattoos can have some of that old school look.

 

 

Tattoo Gun in Action on a
Cherry Blossom Tattoo

A cherry blossom tattoo is a very feminine tattoo. The cherry blossom is a symbol for female beauty and love (in China), but also for the transience of life (in Japan) because the cherry blossom blooms for a very short time only.

This flower is often seen in Japanese tattoo art.

 

 

 

The outlines of a lily tattoo

A lily as a flower in general denotes purity, but there are many different kinds of lilies and lily tattoo designs. Depending on the culture and times, lilies often mean different or even opposite things.

In ancient Egypt, the lily was a symbol for fertility, while in medieval times it symbolized innocence.

The calla lily signifies beauty, but an orange lily on the other hand denotes hatred.

The meaning behind a tiger lily tattoo is usually pride or prosperity.

 

 

 

 

A Lotus Flower Tattoo

Lotus flower tattoos are amongst my favorite tattoo designs because of their symbolic meaning.

Just like the beautiful lotus flower floats on the muddy waters of a pond, it is a symbol for purity floating on the dirty waters of our society.

The lotus flower is seen often in Indian and Chinese mythology, where it is a symbol for spiritual awakening.

Just like cherry blossom, the lotus flower is seen often in Japanese tattoo designs.

 

 

Sunflower tattoo, still healing

Sunflower tattoo designs can be particularly striking. Just as the sunflower itself is bolder and more impact than most other flowers (due to its size and color), a sunflower tattoo is generally bigger and bolder than most other flower tattoos.

A big sunflower is a symbol for loyalty.

A smaller sunflower means adoration.

 

Hibiscus tattoo

The Hibiscus is also a popular tattoo flower. It is a tropical flower (the state flower of Hawaii) and is usually red or yellow.

The symbolic meaning of an Hibiscus tattoo is delicate beauty or consumed by love.

A Blue Daisy Tattoo

Daisy tattoos, on the ankle, shoulder or foot for example, are pretty and delicate. They are very much in keeping with a feminine, ladylike appearance (Daisy is also a common girl's name) and are usually small.

The Daisy is a flower that represents innocence, loyalty in love, purity and faith.

 

 

 

 

Tropical flower tattoos are often combined with a Hawaiian band and are appropriate for both men and women. Hawaiian arm and leg tattoos were very popular for a long time, and are making a bit of a comeback currently. A tropical flower may be seen on its own, but more often it is part of an integrated design or pattern.

Other flowers that are often used for tattoos are forget me not's (an old believe is that the wearers of this flower are not forgotten by their lovers), orchid flowers (mysterious), sweet pea flowers (blissful pleasure), irises (passion), violets (faithfulness, modesty), narcissus (self-esteem) and peony flowers (anger).

Flower tattoos are an attractive option for women who want a discreet and feminine tattoo, but they are more than that. Flower tattoos can convey a variety of looks, images and styles, from old school to tribal. They are timeless and very attractive, and because they can be quite small, they can work in a variety of places and designs.

Beauty & Meaning of Floral Tattoos

Flower tattoo designs can represent a timeless symbol of beauty and are a popular choice of tattoo design particularly amongst females although not an uncommon tattoo for males when incorporated with other symbols.

Certain types of flower have held a more popular appeal than others. It is worthwhile to consider what certain flowers symbolize before committing to getting a tattoo. Most people can appreciate their beauty and see their value when they look at flowers and also feel a sense joy and vitality.

 

Below are the more popular flowers (with brief meanings) that are chosen as flower tattoo designs.

Anjelica Inspiration, magic
Azalea Moderation, temperance
Baby's Breath Purity of heart
Bluebell Constancy, sorrowful regret
Buttercup Riches
Carnation Fidelity, love
Cherry Blossom Spiritual beauty
Cornflower Delicacy, refinement
Crocus Gladness, mirth
Daffodil Deceitfulness, hope, unrequited love.
Daisy Innocence.
Dandeloin Coquetry
Dogwood Forgetfulness
Four O'clock Timidity
Fuschia Intimacy
Peach Blossom Captivity
Gardenia Refinement
Geranium Gentility, peaceful mind
Hibiscus Symbolizes delicate beauty.
Honeysuckle Bonds of love
Hydrangea Boastfulness, heartlessness
Jasmine Happiness
Rhododendron Signifies "I am dangerous"
Lantana Unyielding, unbending
Lotus Symbolizes estranged love.
Magnolia Benevolence, high-souled, love of nature
Morning Glory Affection, departure
Orange Blossom Chastity, eternal love, marriage
Rose Very popular tattoo design. See Rose Tattoos.
Saffron Voluptuousness, sexual energy
Sunflower Symbolize sheer beauty
Thistle Austerity, sternness
Tulip Enchantment
Water Lily purity of heart
White Lilies purity and sweetness.
Zinnia Thoughts of absent friends

 

Placement of Tattoos

Flower or floral tattoo designs are popular tattoos for women and can be placed on any part of the body from arms, legs, neck, belly, lower back, chest, breasts, and pubic area.

On guys it is common to see flowers surrounding something else such as a nameplate or other symbol and can be tattooed on arms and legs.

Flowers in Dreams

Flowers in our dreams can represent the simplest feelings of contentment to the deepest feelings of spiritual completeness. A circular flower is a friendly sign which could be a symbol of wholeness. Flowers also represent hope and positive growth, along with simplicity, innocence, and possibly virginity.

There are so many different types of flowers that it should be easy to find the right flower tattoo design that resonates with who you are and means something special to you.

 

 
 

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