Birth flower tattoos in Knoxville

A birth flower tattoo is personal without needing words. Julie has a full set of birth month flash, with a single stem and a half-floral butterfly for every month, and she can draw any of them custom or combine several into one piece.

Birth flowers by month

Most months have two flowers. The meanings below follow The Old Farmer’s Almanac birth flower chart. Each image is Julie’s flash for that month.

January: Carnation and snowdrop

Pink carnations mean affection, but carnation meaning depends on the color. Snowdrops stand for hope and compassion.

A ruffled carnation head reads well even small. A drooping snowdrop bell makes a delicate stem by itself.

February: Violet and primrose

Violets mean quiet devotion. Primroses mean the innocence of new love.

Both are small, five-petal flowers, so they sit best in a cluster or tucked into a larger bouquet.

March: Daffodil

The daffodil is the promise of a fresh start.

The trumpet center gives a daffodil depth with very little shading, which suits fine line.

April: Daisy and sweet pea

Daisies stand for innocence and true love. Sweet peas mean fondness and gratitude.

“Daisy” comes from the Old English for “day’s eye,” because the flower opens in the morning and closes at night. That makes it a natural match for a sun or star.

May: Lily of the valley and hawthorn

Lily of the valley means the return of happiness. Hawthorn means hope.

Lily of the valley’s row of tiny bells is one of the most delicate birth flowers to tattoo. In the garden, though, every part of the plant is poisonous, which gives it a darker side if you want one.

June: Rose and honeysuckle

Roses mean love and beauty. Honeysuckle means fond memories and lasting love.

June has the most options: a single rose, a rosebud, or honeysuckle vines that wrap a wrist or ankle.

July: Larkspur and water lily

Larkspur means a cheerful spirit. Water lilies stand for purity and renewal.

Larkspur grows in tall spikes, so it fits long placements like the forearm or spine. A water lily works as a flat, round design.

August: Gladiolus and poppy

Gladiolus means strength of character. Poppies stand for peaceful remembrance.

Gladiolus has upright, sword-shaped leaves and is also called the sword lily, so it pairs well with a dagger or sword. The poppy became a remembrance flower after the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields.”

September: Aster and morning glory

Asters mean wise and patient love. Morning glories mean playful affection.

“Aster” comes from the Greek word for star, for the way its petals radiate. Morning glories open in the morning and close in the afternoon, so a vine of them can work as a quiet sun-and-moon theme.

October: Marigold and cosmos

Marigolds mean joyful and sorrowful remembrance. Cosmos stand for joy and harmony.

Marigolds are the iconic flower of Día de los Muertos, so they pair naturally with a skull or a memorial piece.

November: Chrysanthemum

The chrysanthemum stands for the joy of lasting friendship.

In Japan, the chrysanthemum is the symbol of the Emperor and the Imperial family. Its many layered petals make it one of the best birth flowers for black and grey shading.

December: Holly and narcissus

Holly means protection and goodwill. Narcissus (paperwhite) stands for purity and new beginnings.

Holly’s spiky leaves and berries add an edge that most birth flowers don’t have. A small dot of red on the berries is the only color it needs.

Combining birth flowers

A family birth flower tattoo puts each person’s flower into one design: kids, grandkids, a partner, or parents. A few ways to lay it out:

• Bouquet: all the stems gathered together, sometimes tied with a ribbon. It works well on the forearm, upper arm or thigh.
• Vine: the flowers in a row along one stem, which wraps a wrist or ankle or runs down the spine. It’s easy to add a flower later.
• Half-floral butterfly: like Julie’s flash, with one month’s flowers filling half the wings. Two butterflies make a matching pair.
• Single stems: one small flower per person, placed separately, like a set of matching pieces.

If two people share a month, use both of that month’s flowers. If a flower is hard to read small, like violets or sweet pea, put it in the middle of the bouquet, where the bigger flowers frame it.

Adding names and dates

Initials or a birth date can sit on the stem, in a ribbon around the bouquet, or in fine script underneath. Keep the script at least as tall as a pencil eraser, so it stays readable as the ink settles.