Flower tattoos are some of the most versatile body art choices in that they can be any size and placed practically anywhere on the body. Their various shapes and vibrant colors and make them particularly appealing to many tattoo enthusiasts. These natural beauties can easily be combined with other popular tattoo elements such as hearts, daggers, tribal designs and crosses. Pairing them with grim reapers, skulls, tigers and demons creates softer versions of otherwise tougher looking tattoos. With an array of meanings (ie. cycle of life, beauty of nature, the exotic, love, enlightenment, etc.), flower tattoos offer countless design possibilities with unlimited symbolism.

Janis Joplin's Tattoo Influence

Janis Joplin was not only one of the biggest female rock stars of the 1960's, but a true and early pioneer for both the hippie counterculture and the women's liberation movement. One of her first stops upon arriving in San

Francisco in the mid 1960's was to Lyle Tuttle's Tattoo Studio on 7th Street. Lyle Tuttle, one of the country's most notable tattoo artists, inked a small flower tattoo and vines on Janis's wrist—a symbol for the liberation of women and the start of a tattoo revolution that is still progressing today. Janis Joplin clearly displayed her wrist tattoo while gracing the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in the late 1960's. This public display of Joplin's tattoos gave justification and acceptance to women's liberation movements worldwide, showing that tattoos were a form of art and could be worn by anyone wanting to make a personal statement, not just drunken sailors and fallen women. Janis Joplin later chose a small flower tattoo for her right heel and a small heart tattoo for her left breast. She had this to say about her tattoos: "I wanted some decoration. See, the one on my wrist is for everybody; the one on my tit is for me and my friends." She paused and chuckled, "Just a little treat for the boys, like icing on the cake." Lyle Tuttle was later asked why he thought that tattoos had become so popular in the 1960's. He replied, "Women's liberation! One hundred percent women's liberation! Women were free to get a tattoo if they wanted."

Rose Tattoos

Roses have been seen in many tattoo studios worldwide since the early 1900's. They had been, and still are, a favorite choice of sailors as a sign of love for those they left behind. Later in the 1960's, as women's movements pressed forward, rose tattoos left the single domain of sailors to became more popular than ever for both men

and women. Single red rose tattoo designs incorporated other popular tattoo elements such as daggers, skulls, black widow spiders and tribal art—expanding from the sole meaning of love to being seen as decorative elements.

The most popular of all flower tattoos are still red rose tattoos representing love, passion and romance. Here is a list of popular rose colors and their meanings:   

Red - True love (particularly when presented as a single rose), passion and saying "I love you," romantic love and respect.

Pink - Grace, elegance, gentleness.

Coral - Desire.

Orange - Enthusiasm, excitement and fascination.

Light Peach - Modesty and friendship.  

Yellow - Jealousy (historically), familiar love, friendship, joy and devotion (modern times).

White - Purity, innocence, spiritual love, youth and secrecy.

Blue - Fascination, fantasy and impossibility.

Purple - Enchantment and love and first sight.                 

Black - Death and darkness (black roses in nature are really deep purple).

Red and White Combined - Mercy, unity and justice.

Red and Yellow Combined - Congratulations.

Yellow and Orange Combined - Passionate thoughts.

Other Popular Flower Tattoos

Although red rose tattoos have remained a popular choice for tattoo seekers, there are a variety of other flowers that are also commonly requested. Daisy tattoos, for example, are representative of both romance and innocence. Lily tattoos can carry a variety of meanings depending on the type of lily that is selected: calla lilies represent elegance and beauty while orange tiger lilies add an exotic flavor to any design. Chrysanthemum tattoos generally represent loyalty and promise and are frequently incorporated into oriental tattoo designs or are surrounded by splashing waves. Sunflower tattoos represent the sun and happiness while vine tattoos are generally chosen for their elongated shape that allows them to be positioned in a climbing manner up arms, legs and torsos.

Flower Tattoos