Sunflowers are all over social media these days because they are the national flower of Ukraine. And what better symbol could they have chosen since the sunflower reminds us to stand tall and stay positive. What’s more, sunflowers represent faith, loyalty, hope, and joy. They make for a beautifully symbolic tattoo.
Keep scrolling to see the best sunflower tattoos to bring sunshine to your style. Along the way, let’s talk about the different types of sunflower tattoos and what they mean.
What a sunflower tattoo means
Did you know that sunflowers are heliotropic? The blooms stay facing the sun as it moves across the sky. Therefore, if you want to remind yourself to stay positive, getting a sunflower tattoo is smart. It will remind you to keep looking up.
Sunflowers in mythology and religion
In ancient Greek mythology, there is a story about the sunflower. A water nymph fell in love with the God of the sun, Helios, but he abandoned her. Desolated, the nymph stared at the sun for nine days straight and ended up turning into a sunflower. This myth is one of the reasons why sunflowers symbolize faithfulness and loyalty.
Among Native Americans, the sunflower was valued and sometimes worshiped as a symbol of fertility and abundance.
Then, among some Christian groups, the sunflower stands for faith in God and spiritual love.
Different types of sunflower tattoos
The sky’s the limit when it comes to sunflower tattoo designs. Feel free to ink a sunflower anywhere you like and as big or small as you prefer. There are all sorts of styles of sunflower tattoos, from American Traditional to tribal and from minimalist and geometric to hyperrealistic and watercolor.
Here’s a 3D realistic sunflower tattoo with a butterfly and ladybug. Perhaps the collector is someone with strong ties to nature. Butterflies can represent hope and ladybugs are lucky. On the other hand, a butterfly may symbolize transformation and freedom, a perfect match for the sunflower symbolizing joy.
In any case, this gorgeous image can’t fail to bring a smile to someone’s face.
Where to place a sunflower tattoo?
Tattoo placement is important. Would you want to put the sunflower tattoo where you can see it as a daily reminder or where others can appreciate it? A wrist or forearm tattoo lets you enjoy the image or share it, too.
Paris Jackson has a geometric sunflower tattoo on her left forearm but Vanessa Hudgens has to raise her shirt to show off her sunflower ink.
Also, consider associated images and the themes of other tattoos nearby.
Best Sunflower Tattoos in 2024
Small sunflower tattoo
If a sleeve tattoo doesn’t fit your budget right now, how about a minimalist sunflower tattoo discreetly placed behind the ear? It can be easily hidden with hair or left on display. In any case, out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind.
Sunflower tattoo with script
It’s not uncommon to see the stem of a sunflower turned into script, like the name of a loved one or a favorite saying.
Sunflower tattoo with a frog
This courageous collector has a large sunflower inked on her back. The design includes a frog perched on the stem. It’s an interesting combination because if sunflowers can represent fertility, so can frogs. Or perhaps she wants it to represent a positive attitude with perseverance or rebirth. Since the tattoo is placed on the back and only visible while wearing a swimsuit or similar type of top, we’re curious about its meaning.
Black and gray sunflower tattoo
Who says that a sunflower tattoo has to be in full color? Here is a beautifully shaded black and gray sunflower with an impressive amount of detail and depth. Maybe it symbolizes that positivity still exists in the darkest of times. Or perhaps it’s a remembrance of happy times past.
Glow-in-the-dark sunflower tattoo
We love UV reactive ink and the sunflower is perfect for this type of tattoo. Under black light, the petals gleam yellow. (It could be this is a daisy and not a sunflower because it has a simple set of petals, but it’s still amazing).
Sunflower tattoo on a finger
You’re never too old to get inked. This delicate little sunflower reminds us that a sunny disposition is a blessing at all ages.
Watercolor sunflower tattoo
Did you know that sunflowers symbolize hope for the end of nuclear warfare? They are an excellent choice because sunflowers can survive disastrous environmental conditions including heat waves and drought.
They stand tall to represent vitality and healthy growth. And if their seeds are harvested but fall to the ground, the flowers will be reborn to continue the cycle.
Field of sunflowers tattoo
We’ve been watching the incredible bravery of the Ukrainians for almost a month now. Their flag is a field of yellow topped by a band of blue just like the field of sunflowers in this tattoo. It kinda makes us want to get inked with a similar image to show our support.
3D sunflower tattoo
Don’t you just love the depth of this realistic-looking sunflower? It points forward just like the person’s face as they overcome problems together. If it were us, we’d be looking in the mirror often to appreciate this work of art.
Cute sunflower tattoo
This cute tattoo is like an illustration from a children’s book. The friendly flower towers over the little girl contemplating it. Look closely, can you read the script in the stem?
Sunflower and skull tattoo
It may seem like an odd combination to have a skull surrounded by sunflowers. But it’s actually an excellent design with counterbalancing opposites.
There’s the skull, memento mori, the symbol of death and the ephemeral nature of life. It’s a constant reminder that it could all come to an end at any moment.
Then, there are the sunflower petals swaddling the skull. They are the symbol of optimism and joyfulness.
All in all, we say that this is the perfect Seize The Day tattoo.
Carpe diem! Stop putting off your sunflower tattoo. Talk to the artist today about the design you want.