Flower Tattoo Meanings
"Flower tattoo meaning" is one of the most searched tattoo questions in America. Every flower has its own message, and choosing one is a way of saying something without words.
The language of flowers
In the 1800s the Victorians developed floriography, a "language of flowers" in which every bloom carried a message. Many tattoo meanings still come from it, mixed with older religious and Asian traditions.
The most popular flowers and their meanings
Rose — love, beauty, and pain when shown with thorns. Lily — purity, faith and the Virgin Mary. Lotus — rising clean out of difficulty, enlightenment. Sunflower — loyalty, warmth and turning toward the light. Cherry blossom — the beauty and shortness of life. Peony — prosperity, honor and courage.
Poppy — remembrance of the fallen, especially since the First World War. Daisy — innocence and new beginnings. Chrysanthemum — long life and nobility in Japan, where it is the imperial emblem; in parts of Europe it is the flower of graves and memory. Forget-me-not — remembrance and lasting love.
Birth flowers
Many people choose the flower of their birth month, or of a child's, partner's or parent's. A bouquet of several birth flowers is a common family tattoo.
Flowers Tattoo Questions
What do flower tattoos symbolize?
It depends on the flower: love for the rose, purity for the lily, enlightenment for the lotus, loyalty for the sunflower, the shortness of life for the cherry blossom.
What flower means remembrance?
The poppy and the forget-me-not are both flowers of remembrance.
What is a birth flower tattoo?
A tattoo of the flower that belongs to a person's birth month, often combined into a family bouquet.