70+ Shoulder Flower Tattoo Ideas (And Their Meanings)

Flowers in the world of tattoos are like a little black dress in fashion - they are always in trend. These classic, timeless body art pieces are versatile and easily adaptable to any tattoo style you prefer. Flower themed tattoos carry different meanings, depending on the flowers you choose or consider related.

Although flowers look perfect on any part of the body, they are especially mesmerizing on the shoulders. So if you're looking to get your very first shoulder tattoo or are in the mood for a new body mascara, you've come to the right place.

Scroll down to learn more about flower shoulder tattoos, see the beautiful designs and check out the important symbolism they carry.

Are shoulder tattoos harmful?

The shoulders are one of the least painful places to get a tattoo, and they are thick skin with very few nerve endings. The level of pain is low to moderate, depending on each person's perception of pain.

Most people describe pain as tingling or scratching. When the tattoo needle comes close to the bone, it can feel like a slightly painful vibration.

Basically, if you want to get a tattoo without much pain and discomfort, the upper arm is the perfect place. Keep in mind that each person and their pain tolerance is different.

70+ Floral Shoulder Tattoo Designs

Flower tattoos come in many shapes, colors, shapes, sizes, and styles. They can be chic and elegant or bold and edgy. Choosing a flower tattoo design is up to you and your personality. So, here are some amazing options you can use for inspiration.

1. Sunflower tattoo on the shoulder

Flowers bring joy, especially sunflowers. Their bright yellow petals remind us of sunshine even on cloudy days.

What many people don't know is that the symbolism of sunflowers is connected to Greek myth. History says that Clity, a nymph, was madly in love with Apollo, Sun God. He also loved her at first.

Eventually, Apollo fell in love with another nymph. So obviously Clytie was jealous. Her jealousy was so great that she went and told everything to the father of another nymph. Needless to say, the father was not impressed. He acted cruelly and buried his daughter LIVE!

Apollo was devastated, but at the same time angry at Clyti. To punish his former lover, Apollo turned Clytia into a sunflower.

Because Clytie's love for Apollo was so strong, she watched Apollo moving across the sky every day, how sunflowers followed the sun.

Sunflowers symbolize adoration, loyalty and hopeful love. Because of their association with the sun, sunflowers symbolize optimism, joy, or something positive even during the darkest hours.

A multicolor sunflower tattoo on the front or back of the shoulder is incredibly beautiful, you can also choose from a black or gray design. While sunflowers look best when their bright yellow color is perfectly etched into your skin, your black and gray tattoo can also have a great mood. Just make sure your tattoo is detailed.

2. Rose tattoo on the shoulder

While all flowers represent love in one way or another, roses are far superior in this regard. Of all the flowers, roses are most often associated with love. Romantic gestures are always accompanied by a bouquet of roses. Even one rose can do its job and speak volumes, expressing a person's love for his soulmate.

Indeed, roses are love and passing. But their meaning can also extend to confidentiality or secrecy and other personality traits, virtues and values.

The symbolism of a rose tattoo depends on the color. For example, a red rose symbolizes love and romance. The pink rose symbolizes gratitude, admiration, grace and joy. On the other hand, an orange rose depicts passion and enthusiasm. A yellow rose symbolizes friendship or protection from envious lovers, while white roses symbolize purity and innocence. The blue rose signifies the impossible or the unattainable.

Some people use rose tattoos to pay tribute to someone. For this purpose, you can also add their name or the date associated with them.

Like other flower tattoos, your shoulder rose can be multi-colored or black. You can add a rose tattoo right on your shoulder, back or front. It is also useful to add a rod that will run down the back or arm, depending on the location.

3. Lotus tattoo on the shoulder

The lotus flower is mesmerizingly beautiful and also holds deep meaning in many cultures, especially in East Asia.

The lotus is considered a symbol of purity and divine beauty. The flower itself blooms and thrives even in muddy waters. In this way, the lotus reminds us of the obstacles and negative life situations that we need to overcome in order to blossom and prosper.

Compassion and strength are also associated with the lotus flower. After all, you need to be strong, aimed at the prize, in order to survive in the most difficult conditions and achieve well-deserved success. Just like a lotus flower in dirty water.

Since the existence of the lotus never really ends, the meaning of this flower extends to eternal life.

Many people, mostly women, choose the lotus tattoo because it symbolizes peace and simplicity. The Lotus just floats on the water and is not affected by everything that happens around it. That is why this delicate flower represents peacefulness.

If you have a mindset that is not influenced by the outside world, or hope to achieve it, a lotus flower is a great choice for a tattoo.

The most common places for a lotus tattoo are the back, ribs, and arms. But a lotus flower or lotus branch even looks great on the shoulder blades.

4. Hibiscus flower tattoo on the shoulder

Hibiscus flowers symbolize romantic love and affection because of their red and hot pink flowers. These beautiful five-petaled flowers are known to repel the evil eye and negativity.

For this reason, people often get hibiscus flower tattoos to banish negativity and create positive vibes.

A single hibiscus flower is a beautiful expression of the wearer's feminine side. The shape and colors of this flower personify the beauty, grace and femininity of a person. But hibiscus should not be reserved just for women. Men who appreciate femininity can also wear these tattoos.

Hibiscus can also symbolize prestige and success. As with other colors, the specific symbolism depends on the color. So, red hibiscus means love, passion and romance. The pink hibiscus represents femininity, while the purple flower is a symbol of mystery and perfection.

Yellow hibiscus is rare and represents happiness and good omens, joy and hope. A blue hibiscus tattoo on the shoulder depicts a belief in your freedom or ability to make decisions. After all, blue is the color of serenity, independence and freedom.

Orange hibiscus is hospitality, warmth and joy. Many people choose to have a tattoo like this to pay homage or show appreciation to Haiti.

5. Lily tattoo on the shoulder

Although different varieties of lilies have different meanings, the most common symbol is fertility and purity. Lilies are sweet and innocent, which is why they are associated with rebirth and fresh life.

The Lily tattoo also symbolizes femininity, especially motherhood. Passion and royalty are also associated with beautiful lily flowers. Pink lilies symbolize ambition and prosperity, while yellow lilies symbolize good health and healing. Red lilies, like other flowers, symbolize passion and romance.

Your lily tattoo can cover only the shoulder area, or extend down the arm, chest, or back. It all depends on the design you are aiming for.

6. Cherry blossom tattoo on the shoulder

The sakura flower as a symbol of spring symbolizes renewal, rebirth and the transience of life. These delicate flowers are a perfect metaphor for the transience of life, as they do not last long.

Some people choose a cherry blossom tattoo to remind themselves and others to live each day to the fullest. Life is short and you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. While this may seem like a cliché that people keep repeating, it's true and a cherry tattoo can capture that idea.

Cherry blossom tattoos are subtle, elegant, can be large or small, black or multi-colored. You can also choose whether to place it directly on your shoulder or maybe on your shoulder blade. Depending on the design, your cherry blossoms can extend across your arm and extend up to a full or half sleeve.

7. Peony tattoo on the shoulder

In Japanese culture, peonies are a symbol of courage, honor and good luck. Peony, the king of flowers, is used in the celebration of big and important holidays. For this reason, these flowers represent wealth.

Although peonies were considered a symbol of masculinity, women can decorate them too. A peony tattoo on the shoulder can mean many things, including well-being, inner harmony, kindness and purity.

In addition to peonies, you can add other motifs to your tattoo, including snakes or dragons. These combination tattoos on the shoulders or shoulder blades often represent a balance of strength and beauty.

8. Jasmine shoulder tattoo

The meaning of a jasmine tattoo varies from one culture to another. In most cases, this beautiful flower depicts love, sensuality or beauty. Pure white jasmine flowers represent purity and innocence.

Jasmine is a small flower that blooms at night. Despite its small size, jasmine has a strong aroma. For this reason, it often symbolizes the value of modesty.

Your jasmine tattoo can also signify simplicity and humility. Most people opt for a few jasmine flowers cascading down their shoulders.

9. Chamomile tattoo on the shoulder

Like other spring flowers, daisies usually symbolize new beginnings and hope. Daisies also evoke positive emotions and symbolize fun, affection, and other pleasant values ​​and attributes.

You can place a daisy tattoo anywhere, but it will look especially beautiful on the shoulder. It can be the front, the upper part of the shoulder, or even the shoulder blade.

A chamomile tattoo often symbolizes patience, love, and purity. This is one of those colors that is exclusively for women and we can't get enough of its allure.

10. Magnolia tattoo on the shoulder

Magnolia flowers are delicate, but incredibly beautiful. They symbolize perseverance, nobility and love for nature. When you look at Magnolia, you will see that it is strong in appearance, but also soft and delicate. That is why the magnolia personifies the beauty containing tenderness and femininity.

Despite its gentle nature, magnolia is also hardy. Thus, a tattoo depicting this flower can symbolize endurance. Strong personalities who have overcome many trials often choose magnolia flower tattoos.

Your magnolia tattoo may have other floral motifs, such as peonies.

11. Iris tattoo on the shoulder

The iris flower symbolizes the divine line between Earth and Heaven, as well as intuition, rebirth and hope. The iris tattoo depicts wise love, wisdom, greatness and innocence. Named after the Greek goddess Iris, this flower means different things in different cultures.

One thing is for sure, iris tattoos are unique and look like real works of art. In tattoos, the iris is usually blue or purple. However, some people opt for the black or watercolor option. Like many other flowers, iris can be the center and only point of your tattoo or combined with other colors and motifs.

People get iris tattoos if they can relate to symbolism and also for aesthetics and to honor the iris they know and love.

12. Poppy tattoo on the shoulder

The poppy is best known as a flower symbolizing the memory of the First World War. Today, poppies are used to pay tribute to all fallen soldiers.

The symbolism of the poppy flower, in addition to memories, also indicates sacrifice and eternal love. In some cultures, especially in Asia, poppies symbolize success, good luck and romantic love.

A poppy tattoo can also depict fertility, fertility, sleep, and nature. Many people choose a poppy tattoo because it is associated with death when they want to pay tribute to someone. But there are many other reasons to get a poppy tattoo as you can deduce from all the meanings it represents.

Your poppy tattoo can be bright red, but also black. In addition to flowers, you can also include stems. Thus, the rod can go down the arm or back.

13. Ethnic flower tattoo on the shoulder

If you want to add a touch of flair to your flower tattoo, the tribal style is a great choice. Tribal tattoos have been around for centuries and are a wonderful way to honor your culture.

The best thing about these tattoos is that you can use any flower you want and the tattoo artist will turn it into a tribal motif. Be sure to choose a flower whose symbolism is close to you, or your favorite flower.

Ethnic designs are especially effective when large, but your flower tattoo can be small and subtle and still look amazing.

14. Small flower tattoo on the shoulder

What we love about flowers is their versatility in tattoos. You can get a flower tattoo in any size, color, shape or style. So, if you want to get a small or subtle shoulder tattoo, small flowers can help.

Despite their compact size, these tattoos are still spectacular. You can still combine them with other motifs including hummingbirds, hearts, crescent moon and so on.

Small flower tattoos are usually in the form of thin lines. This means that you really need to find an experienced and talented tattoo artist. Although these tattoos seem simple and light, it takes a lot of experience to give them a subtle and delicate look.

15. Large flower tattoo on the shoulder

If you don't want a small or thin tattoo, you can always get a bigger one. Flowers in intricate designs really shine, especially because the tattoo artist can focus on every detail to create realistic tattoos.

Usually these are individual tattoos that artists create especially for you. That is why they are most suitable for edgy people who want unique tattoos that stand out easily.

While any type of flower is at your disposal, bold colors are especially useful here. However, as you can see in the photos above, blackwork can give your flower tattoo a special vibe, it all depends on the image itself and the colors you choose.