Scarlett Fairchild has put together this guide to the daisy tattoo meaning to see what the flower can stand for, be it loyal love or innocence, resilience and new beginnings. Here in Australia the daisy is well suited to being rendered with native-flower, bush or coastal touches so as to have a tattoo of your own making and not something that looks like it came out of a catalogue.
Put simply, one gets a daisy for the fresh start, hope, friendship and purity it conveys. But then there are the colour and any other symbols you might put with it, and the story to tell. Do not think of flower symbolism as rules from some very serious daisy parliament; there is no tattoo dictionary to give you a definitive answer, so use it as a point of departure.
The Meaning
It is the unadorned nature of the daisy that gives the tattoo its meaning for most. With an open petal and a bright centre in a shape everyone knows, they are associated with modesty and a certain happiness. In Australia the design is taken as a sign of optimism when times have been hard. It can be a way to note a new vocation, motherhood, a cross-country move, a friendship or just an intention to be less hard on oneself.
Symbolism in a Daisy Tattoo
There is room for different life stories in the symbolism of a daisy. The sunny centre of the flower brings with it warmth and joy; a sturdy stem is resilience in the face of rough conditions; white petals are a matter of honesty. Some will have a daisy to denote true love, or in memory of a family member or child. None of this is contingent on the size of the piece or whether it is done in a fine line or is realistic. Explore delicate daisy tattoo inspiration for more ideas.
| Design Feature | Common Meaning | One’s Own Take |
|---|---|---|
| White petals | Purity and peace | An honest relationship or a clean slate |
| Yellow centre | Energy and joy | To be optimistic about things |
| More than one | Family or community | Those who are important to you put together |
| A closed or fading flower | Transition | An ending of sorts before renewal |
| Good stem and leaves | Resilience | To have made it through a season |
What is Overlooked
You will find a search result telling you a daisy is synonymous with innocence and make your choice on that alone. But symbolism is not so universal. Depending on the context the flower can be a quiet strength or a nod to youthfulness or remembrance.
Make a note of why you want the tattoo before you book. “I want to remember the year I started again” will get you a better composition from the artist than “give me a cute daisy”. There is nothing wrong with cute, but it should be for more than that.
An Australian Perspective
Those looking up daisy tattoo meanings in Australia often want to link the flower to their surroundings. While not an Australian symbol per se, a daisy will not look out of place with wattle, eucalyptus, flannel flowers or banksia. A client in Sydney may have a daisy and a fine-line wave for a coastal feel, or someone from the bush might add a billy or gum leaves and a mountain to it. You do not have to make of your forearm a souvenir shop to make it local.
There are visual references in the landscape. A daisy and a gum leaf says home and resilience. Add in some wattle for a sense of national identity or family. For those with Red Centre connections a desert take on it is in order, or a coastal one if Bondi or the Great Ocean Road is where you are from.
Local Details That Work
There are visual references in the landscape. A daisy and a gum leaf says home and resilience. Add in some wattle for a sense of national identity or family. For those with Red Centre connections a desert take on it is in order, or a coastal one if Bondi or the Great Ocean Road is where you are from.
Exercise some thought over Aboriginal artwork or cultural symbols. They are not a means of decoration and have ecological and cultural import; do not put language markings or sacred motifs on skin without the right understanding and permission.
Practicalities
Then there is the climate to factor in. When you are planning a tattoo in the height of an Australian summer, give some consideration to aftercare and how outdoor work or a sweaty commute and time at the beach or in the pool will come into it. The humidity of the northern wet season can be an impediment to a comfortable healing process and in some parts of the country summer bushfires will put a crimp on your travel and studio access.
When it comes to getting home, plan your transport in such a way that you do not have to put a fresh tattoo up against the confines of a crowded train or tight clothes. Should you be making the long haul over the Stuart Highway or Gibb River Road, put the appointment in after you have put the rough track behind you; a new tattoo and red dust do not mix.
Colour Choices And What They Convey
There is symbolism in colour that will alter the emotional tenor of any given flower. You could have a white daisy for something classic and unassuming, or go with purple or blue for an impression that is more reflective and out of the ordinary.
Then there is the matter of upkeep. Under the Australian glare one has to be vigilant with sun protection for pale tones and fine white work as well as brighter pigments. Make sure to put any questions to your artist as to how the colour will fare on your skin before you make up your mind.
White Daisy Meaning
Innocence, peace and new beginnings are what most would read into the meaning of a white daisy tattoo. It is fitting for a first piece or a memorial where the symbolism should be understated, not overdone.
White ink can be very subtle and does not have the staying power of a dark outline, some artists will employ it as a highlight only. If you are in the habit of leaving the sunscreen at home, working outdoors or having weekends at the beach, have a frank word with your tattooist about how it will age.
Yellow Daisy Meaning
For friendship, warmth and a sense of joy one turns to the yellow daisy. The colour is enough to enliven a small tattoo, no need for a big design. It is a good way to be reminded of the simple pleasures: a walk in the sun post-rain, a child’s laughter or your morning coffee.
With time and the sun yellow will tend to soften. That is no reason to take to the indoors like a possum. But once healed, broad-spectrum sunscreen and heeding your artist’s advice on aftercare is in order.
Purple And Blue Daisies
A purple daisy might denote spiritual reflection, admiration or individuality; it is for those who appreciate traditional symbolism but want something less of the expected. With a blue daisy the meaning is more often one of trust, hope and calm, perhaps the ocean or open skies, or learning to hold steady when life is flat out. There is no set definition for either so your own interpretation is of more consequence than any chart.
April Birth Flower Designs
As the daisy is the recognised birth flower for April, a tattoo of one can be a birthday marker that does not come across as just another emblem. Even Interflora Australia and other florists would tell you April is for the daisy and sweet pea.
Opting for the daisy allows for a degree of personalisation. One can incorporate a native plant from one’s hometown, put in a birthstone colour or tiny numerals for the date, or use two for siblings.
Make Birth Flowers Personal
The mistake with these tattoos is to think the flower has to be a carbon copy of a botanical drawing. A loose sketch or a pressed-flower look will serve you better if it is true to you.
If the design is to commemorate a child, give thought to whether it will still be appropriate down the line in a decade. A dense bouquet is not as easy to build on as a single daisy on a stem.
One-Day Planning Guide
You are in a new city in Australia for a day? Do not attempt to fit in a coastal ramble and a swim and a tattoo before lunch. See to the consultation and appointment and leave room for the inevitable delays and paperwork.
Visitors should put up somewhere near the studio and not have a flight on the books right after. In the event of swelling or discomfort you would rather be resting than lugging your bags through a sardine can of an airport.
Ideas For Meaningful Designs
What gives a daisy tattoo its force is in the details. A cluster can stand for family or growth, a solitary bloom for being independent.
In the course of my work with skin-care clients in Sydney, I have put together a number of botanical references and come to appreciate how the unadorned forms of a plant can be the most evocative. An elaborate arrangement is not always as meaningful as a flower from a parent’s garden, a small stem or a leaf one has pressed in an old book; such things have a way of holding memories better.
Symbolic Combinations
A daisy and moon are apt for conveying quiet hope, renewal and cycles. Put a butterfly with a daisy and you have transformation. A bee next to one speaks of community and the value of a small effort in terms of hard work. And there is no harm in adding a date, some initials or a few words to make the intent plain to you if you want to keep it from others.
- Remembrance: pair a daisy with an initial, soft shadow or a date.
- Friendship: go for linked stems or two flowers with dissimilar centres.
- Resilience: a gum leaf, roots, a strong stem or the line of a mountain will do.
- Motherhood: a larger flower to a smaller bud or something of a family grouping.
- To start afresh: an opening bloom, new green leaves or a sunrise motif.
But be sure the design is legible at the scale you have in mind. The skin will change and microscopic lettering or very fine petals have a habit of blurring. Any good artist will let you know if your concept is overdone for the spot in question.
On Placement And Style
Where you put a tattoo will affect its upkeep and the way a daisy comes across. On the ankle or wrist it is easy to view and has an intimacy to it; the upper arm, rib or shoulder affords the artist more space for colour, stems and leaves.
Before settling on a location, give thought to what you wear, how you exercise and your job. What looks attractive on a screen can be all but unbearable in reality when a new piece is chafing under a sports sleeve, a work boot or the strap of a bra.
The Studio
Make it a point to find a hygienic, licensed studio. Inquire as to who is doing the tattooing and what their local registrations are, and how they go about sterilising equipment. One should check public-health advice in one’s own council or state; for those in NSW the official safety guidance from NSW Health is a sound place to begin.
Examine work that has healed, not just the photographs of fresh ink which will be bright and a bit puffy. You want to see the artist’s handling of detail and any shift in colour. It is also wise to ask about deposits, the fee structure (hourly or per piece) and the terms for cancellation.
Healing, Aftercare And Cost
Plan to put aside between AUD 150 and 300 for a straightforward piece or the minimum at a small studio; a custom floral of some size could run AUD 300 to 900 and up. These are figures for planning purposes, not set prices in Australia, as the quote will be influenced by the city, the artist and the time of consultation.
One would be unwise to be drawn to an artist on price alone, for a less costly session can turn out dearer down the track should a correction be called for. Once done, adhere to the written aftercare from the studio: no soaking, no picking at the peeling and keep it clean.
Some Common Questions
What follows are the sorts of things people want to know before they put in a booking for a daisy. The idea is to have the symbolism guide you but leave the ultimate meaning to yourself.
What is the significance of a daisy?
It can stand for any number of things: innocence, loyal love, joy, new beginnings. Depending on the wearer and the design it may be a matter of remembrance or resilience.
Is there a spiritual dimension?
Some make of it a symbol for light, emotional healing and growth. There are no hard and fast religious rules here. If that is important to you, make your intention known in the consultation.
Are any flower tattoos lucky?
There is no guarantee of luck in a tattoo. Daisies are held by some to be so because of the positive beginnings and happiness they connote. Others might opt for a lotus for transformation, a sunflower for optimism or a rose for love.
What does it say when a girl has a flower tattoo?
Only that she has made her choice. Be it for beauty, confidence, grief or friendship, a daisy does not tell you anything for certain about a person’s relationship or character.
Good for a first time?
As a rule, yes. The shape lends itself to a small or medium first tattoo. That said, beginners would do well to pick a reputable studio and not put fresh ink where it will be rubbed or exposed to the elements.
Go With Something Enduring
Do not mistake the most intricate daisy for the best. You want a design that holds water long after the fad has gone its way. Tell your story, pick a placement and colour appropriate to your life and have a seasoned artist render it.
For inspiration in a delicate daisy, look at examples of healed work on a skin tone like your own. The flower may be bold or unassuming, but what matters is that it has some meaning for you even if to the rest of the world it is just a nice looking bloom.