For this collection of flower tattoos we highlight each birth month and the bloom that is its counterpart. With many styles, placements, and design concepts, we’re sure you’ll be able to find inspiration for your next splash of spring color!

January’s birth month flowers are carnations and snowdrops. Carnations come in a dazzling variety of colors and each means something different. So keep that in mind when designing your next floral piece: color choice, or even the choice not to have color, can have just as much meaning as the design itself! The carnation symbolizes many things including pure love and good luck, part of the reason why it’s such a good flower to give and receive!

Snowdrops, being one of the very first flowers that pops up to signal the transformation from winter to spring, represent renewal, rebirth and a beautiful end to the winter.

February’s flowers are violet and primrose, even though we bet you were guessing roses! Although Valentine’s Day does land in the middle of this month, these birth month flowers, not unlike roses, are also symbols of adoration. A white violet is often a representation of ‘innocence’ while a purple violet would symbolize that the giver’s thoughts were ‘occupied with love’ about the recipient.

The primrose comes in a variety of colors, including white, pink, red, yellow, blue, and purple. Although it can be found in different shades, the flowers have one thing in common… a yellow tinge in the center. There is an ancient belief that primrose can drive off evil spirits. Aside from that, it was also believed that fairies love this charming blossom, and they will bless your home if you place the flower on your doorstep. From there, primrose was used as a symbol of safety and protection.

Daffodils, the bright laughing birth flower of March! Symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings, the daffodil is quite synonymous with spring. Though their botanic name is ‘Narcissus’, daffodils are also sometimes called jonquils. In Wales, it’s said if you spot the first daffodil of the season, your next 12 months will be filled with wealth. Chinese legend has it that if a daffodil bulb is forced to bloom during the New Year, it will bring good luck to your home.

Whether you want an illustrative piece, or a Neo Traditional bird and floret, or even a small realism watercolor tattoo, there are so many different ways to depict this marvelous flower!

And what flowers does April bring? Daisies and Sweet Peas!

Two blooms who promise cheerfulness with every bounce of their laughing leaves. Not only happiness does a daisy represent, but also innocence and purity. Sweet peas are slightly different. During the Victorian times, giving out sweet pea meant “thank you for the lovely time”. It can also mean blissful pleasure, departure or goodbye. In France, it’s a superstition where the sweet pea is believed to be a good omen for brides… these birth month flower tattoos are just as sweet as their name!

May’s birth flowers are Lily of the Valley and Hawthorns. Hawthorns have some interesting folklore behind them. Did you know maypoles were made of Hawthorn trees? A maypole is used in many different European folk festivals, and are often decorated with bright ribbons. In England the Hawthorn tree is known as the Mayflower tree and signifies hope. This is why the pilgrims named their ship “The Mayflower”, in hopes of a new and happy home.

Lily of the Valleys also have quite an ancient history as a fragrant flowering plant used in religious ceremonies, world celebrations, perfumes and in gardens. Also known as the ‘May Lily’, it means “return to happiness” and most often symbolizes chastity, purity, happiness, luck and humility. Full of allure, these little white darlings make very nice birth month tattoos!

Perhaps the most popular flower, roses, are the birth month flower of June along with honeysuckle. Two sweet florals with an absolute allure. Like carnations, roses come in many different colors each with its own significant meaning. However, roses are much more lush and lavish…but don’t let their perfect petals deceive you. Roses most often exemplify beautiful thoughts of friendship, love, and passion. There couldn’t possibly be anyone out there who wouldn’t love a dozen roses at their doorstep for any type of reason at all!

Honeysuckle, of course, means sweet things. Not only does it embody happiness, but it also attracts one of our favorite feathered friends: the hummingbird!

Rose tattoos are always popular…and although we don’t often see honeysuckle tattoos, we’d be very happy to see more! The expressive and exotic looking bloom in this flower tattoo works wonderfully.

July’s florals are larkspur and water lilies! Did you know that water lilies and lotus flowers are different? Look for them in the next botanical garden you visit! Lotus flowers pop out and wave gracefully above the pond, while water lilies, as their name suggests, float with their layers wafting in the currents. Both are gorgeous, but only one of them did Monet paint…and as these birth month flower tattoos show, they are absolutely breathtaking. The water lily symbolizes a great many thing for several cultures across the globe, beauty and enlightenment to name a few.

Larkspur, on the other hand, come in an astounding myriad of colors…again, each with its very own meaning. In general, however, they represent love with an open heart.

With August comes the birth month flowers Gladiolus and Poppies. Although poppy flowers come in a few different colors, perhaps the most recognizable hue is a deep blood red. Like these poppy flower tattoos here, the effect can be incredibly intense and powerful, indicative of the dark and lusty meanings behind them. Due to the fact that opiates have long been harvested from poppies, their meaning is often connected with death, sleep, and oblivion, but this floret can also symbolize pleasure and love, perhaps even the obsessive and addictive love some people find for opiates, themselves.

Gladiolus are named for the shape of their leaves. Gladioli – from the Latin word “gladius,” meaning sword. These flowers symbolize strength and moral integrity. Gladioli also represent infatuation, with a bouquet conveying to a recipient that they pierce the giver’s heart with passion.

Aster and morning glories are the birth month flower of September. Although it is often thought of to symbolize affection, a morning glory flower blooms and dies within a single day. In the Victorian meaning of flowers, morning glory flowers signify mortality. In Chinese folklore, they represent a single day for lovers to meet. The color of the morning glory blooms help support the idea of vivid and strong adoration!

The Aster, one of the more exotic flowers on this list, has unique ideas attached to its petals. With their wildflower beauty and lush texture, asters have long been considered an enchanted flower. In ancient times, it was thought that the perfume from their burning leaves could drive away evil serpents. Today, they’re known as a talisman of love and a symbol of patience.

Believe it or not, we had never heard of Cosmos flowers until we began putting this collection together! October’s birth month flowers are both Cosmos and Marigolds, each a marvelous floral to be sure. The word Cosmos in Greek means orderly, beautiful, and ornamental. The flower’s fragrance and vibrant colors give it the attributes of peacefulness, wholeness, and modesty. The typical nickname of this bloom is ‘ the love flower’.

The marigold is much different in meaning. Because this flower shows an open face only when the sun shines. This bloom is also known as the ‘herb of the sun’, and can symbolize passion. The gold hue also harks to the mane of a lion, hinting at its other symbolism: that of bravery and courage. But beware! The marigold can also have undercurrents of cruelty, grief, jealousy and greed! Gold does not always glitter, especially when tinged with greed… just ask King Midas!

Perhaps most associated with Asiatic cultures, November’s birth month flower is that of the chrysanthemum. It’s hard to believe that this vivacious bloom is a part of the daisy family, but indeed it is. The lore that surrounds the chrysanthemum is also quite fascinating! Not only do many legends and folk stories include this famous flower, but the Japanese even have a festival celebrating its beauty called “Festival of Happiness”! No doubt this gives you a clue to its meaning too; optimism and joy. “A symbol of the sun, the Japanese consider the orderly unfolding of the chrysanthemum’s petals to represent perfection, and Confucius once suggested they be used as an object of meditation. It’s said that a single petal of this celebrated flower placed at the bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life.”

These chrysanthemum tattoos are wonderful depictions of the Japanese style, plus one in an awe inspiring hyperrealist style! If this is your birth month flower tattoo, you’re most fortunate as this a favorite bloom of many an artist.

December’s birth month flowers vary, as do the others, depending on who you ask, and what country you happen to be in.December has long been attributed to a vast many celebrations thanks to the holidays….and what would Christmas be without those brilliant red bundles of holly and poinsettias? It would make sense that the symbology of the holly has some roots in the Christian religion. The prickly leaves represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The berries are said to represent drops of blood that were shed by Jesus because of the thorns. In Scandinavia this bloom is more commonly referred to as the Christ Thorn.

And for our last, Poinsettias. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity.

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(Cover image by Kubrick Good)