135 Sunflower Tattoo Ideas - [Best Rated Designs in 2020]

large black and grey realistic tattoo on woman's forearm of a bouquet of sunflowers

As tattoos grow in popularity and prominence, some designs rise above others as the most popular categories of designs, and one of those categories is flowers.

Almost everyone who has a nature or plant-themed design has some type of flower tattooed somewhere on their body; one of the most popular flowers to get tattoos of is the sunflower. Sunflowers are straightforward in their design, easy to understand and visualize, and tend to be flattering on a wide variety of skin tones and body types.

Sunflowers are a feature in the 50+ best tattoo ideas because they symbolize strength and joy; tall, hardy, and bright, they loom above the rest of the plants as if in possession of all the joyful secrets of the world. They portray a joyful energy, and carrying a reminder of that joyful energy with you wherever you go is sure to be a bright spot in even the dreariest of days.

1. Black and Grey Sunflower Tattoos

small black and grey tattoo on woman's upper arm of michaelangelo's creation of adam with a sunflower in hands

large bold black and grey realistic sunflower on woman's forearm

medium-sized black and grey tattoo of a sunflower on back of woman's upper arm

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on woman's forearm of a sunflower

black and gray realistic tattoo on woman's ankle of realistic sunflower with stem

black and gray realistic tattoo on side of woman's ribs of realistic sunflower with stem

large black and grey surrealism tattoo on woman's upper arm of a sunflower with stem

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on woman's forearm of realistic sunflower with white highlights

large black and grey tattoo on back of woman's thigh of realistic sunflower and rose with leaves

medium-sized black line tattoo on woman's foot near heel of a sunflower

large black and grey tattoos on two women's forearms of half a sunflower matching up together on each arm

matching black and grey tattoos on two women's forearms of dark butterflies with one floral sunflower wing

See some more butterfly tattoo designs here.

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on forearm of a bouquet of three realistic sunflowers and leaves

large black and grey tattoo on inner upper arm of realistic sunflower with two roses and leaves around them

medium-sized black and grey matching line tattoos on two ankles of sunflowers with stems and leaves

large black and grey tattoo on back of upper arm of realistic sunflower with leaves around it

large black and grey tattoo on forearm of a bouquet of two sunflowers with leaves and vines around them

large black and grey line tattoo on forearm of two realistic sunflowers with leaves and vines around them

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on lower leg of realistic sunflower with leaves around it

large black and grey tattoo on man's forearm of a two realistic sunflowers with leaves around them

large black and grey tattoo on man's upper arm of a dark realistic sunflower

large black and grey line tattoo on man's forearm of a bouquet of a sunflower and two roses behind it

Bold lines and careful shading make or break a sunflower tattoo without any bright colors. Black and grey sunflower tattoos are striking against skin because they evoke a feeling of vintage charm and nostalgia, almost like a black and white film or a carefully staged studio photograph.

Unlike sunflower tattoos with a significant amount of color blended into the design, these black and grey options have a higher likelihood of complementing or even matching other tattoos that could be added to the area later.

Even if the gray and black tattoo is the only one someone gets or just the only tattoo on that area of the body, some people prefer as simple of a design as possible.

Not only are tattoos with fewer colors less expensive than tattoos that pop and sparkle in different shades of yellow or orange, the black and grey tattoos are easier to maintain and may require fewer touchups.

2. Delicate Sunflower Tattoos

medium-sized tattoo on woman's thigh of three small colored sunflowers connected by vines

small delicate black and grey tattoo on woman's wrist of two realistic sunflowers with stems and leaves

Sometimes you might want a tattoo to be a lot smaller and more subtle than a big, gorgeous design across the leg or a sunflower in the middle of your bicep.

Delicate sunflower tattoos come in a range of styles, from that which imitates the watercolor technique of painting to tattoos that are still delicate but a little more blocky, such as a “sketched” or pixelated design.

Sharp, thin lines, careful shading, and a clear image make delicate sunflower tattoos a viable option for people who want to show off their love of sunflowers or simply have some pretty ink on their skin.

Delicate designs can easily be combined with other pieces as well, and the simpler the delicate sunflower tattoo the easier it is for it to blend with another piece or be duplicated for a pattern effect. Fine lines and a light touch make these smaller, more subtle tattoos timeless body art options.

3. Surrealist Sunflower Tattoos

large black and grey surrealism tattoo on woman's lower leg of a sunflower with stem

large color and black and grey watercolor tattoo on woman's forearm of a realistic sunflower and roses

large black and grey and color tattoo on forearm of one yellow sunflower and two black sunflowers all in a row

large black and grey tattoo on man's chest of a surrealistic sunflower with geometric lines and stem

large black and color tattoo on lower leg of a sunflower with a moon in its center and a mandala around it

large black and grey line tattoo on forearm of a lion face split down the middle with a sunflower

large black and grey tattoo on forearm of two surrealistic sunflowers with geometric lines and vines

Sometimes you might want your tattoos to be a little more “out there” and stand out from the crowd or simply the rest of your tattoos. There are varying degrees of “out there,” luckily, so you can fairly easily find what works for you.

Some unique or surrealistic sunflower tattoos are just close enough to realism to be recognized as sunflowers, while others are much more abstract and are recognizable as sunflowers due to context or even color placement.

Non-natural colors, sunflowers superimposed on top of or below other designs, or sunflowers that meld or flow into pieces of the body or other tattoos are some options for surrealist or dreamy sunflower designs.

Sunflowers based on the painting style of a surrealist painter are options as well, such as flowers that imitate a famous image or painting. Sunflowers with extra petals, fewer petals than they typically have, or cartoonish styles of sunflower tattoos may qualify as surreal or dreamy as well.

4. Geometric Sunflower Tattoos

medium-sized black and grey geometric tattoo of a sunflower and callalilies in two triangles on woman's arm

medium-sized color and black and grey surrealism tattoo on woman's forearm of a sunflower with a triangle

large color and black and grey tattoo on woman's forearm of a bouquet of a sunflower and roses with a triangle

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on woman's forearm of traditional sunflower with daisies inside dot circle

large black and grey geometric half-sleeve tattoo on forearm of a sunflower and peonies with negative middle strip space

large black and grey bold tattoo on lower leg of realistic sunflower with geometric triangle and leaves around it

large black and grey tattoo on forearm of realistic sunflower inside geometric triangle and leaves around it

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on forearm of realistic sunflower with stem and leaves inside geometric triangle

medium-sized black and grey geometric tattoo on man's forearm of a dark realistic sunflower and leaves shaped into a triangle

medium-sized black and grey dotwork tattoo on man's lower leg of a dark realistic sunflower and leaves inside a triangle

large black and grey geometric tattoo on woman's lower leg of knife with three sunflowers and circles behind it

large black and color tattoo on forearm of two realistic sunflowers with two bold parallel lines wrapping around arm

medium-sized color watercolor tattoo on man's forearm of a surrealistic sunflower inside a geometric triangle

large color half-sleeve tattoo on forearm of realistic sunflower with leaves and water behind and a mandala next to it

Making images out of shapes or out of other images is an art form that translates extremely well to tattoos. The human canvas can be broken down into a series of interlocked geometric shapes; aligning a geometric sunflower tattoo with a fitting part of the body can make it seem as if it was always meant to be there.

Some geometric tattoos of sunflowers utilize different types or levels of lighting to make the shapes distinct. The sunflower itself may be shaped like any other, but the colors or shading make part of it seem to have sharper angles or even different levels of depth or thickness.

Other styles might have a sunflower behind, around, or on top of a geometric shape that contrasts with it, such as a pentagon or a triangle. Shapes “cut out” of a sunflower can have a striking effect, especially if the image is strategically designed around the geometric element.

5. Large Sunflower Tattoo

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large black and grey tattoo on woman's forearm of three realistic sunflowers

large cover-up black and grey tattoo on woman's upper back of bouquet of sunflowers with butterfly

large black and grey realistic tattoo on woman's thigh of a bouquet of sunflowers and poppies

large black and grey realistic tattoo on woman's forearm of a bouquet of sunflowers

large black and grey tattoo on woman's should and chest of traditional sunflowers

large black and grey realistic tattoo on woman's thigh of a bouquet of sunflowers

large black and grey realistic tattoo on woman's hip of a bouquet of sunflowers and pansies

large color traditional tattoo on woman's upper arm of three sunflowers

Sometimes when it comes to tattoos, bigger is better. The more eye-catching, accurate, beautiful, or even colorful a tattoo is can attract quite a bit of admiration from other sunflower fans.

When size is added into the mix and a sunflower covers, say, an entire forearm, painstaking dedication and patience are essential.

A high pain tolerance wouldn’t hurt, either, as beauty is pain and tattoos are no exception. Even so, any of the best large sunflower tattoos are well worth the pinching sensation for the gorgeous final result that will be unveiled.

Larger sunflower tattoos might be monotone with careful shading and strong lines, or they could be as bright and colorful as actual sunflowers. Sometimes decisions are made about tattoos that are later regretted, and a cover-up is determined to be much cheaper and less painful than laser tattoo removal.

Flowers are excellent choices for covering up unwanted designs, as they tend to be colorful and elaborate enough to distract the eye from any old ink that starts to peek through. Sunflowers, huge and easily recognizable, are a perfect option for covering up old, unwanted body art.

6. Ornamental Sunflower Tattoos

large black and grey and color tattoo on woman's forearm of realistic bouquet of three sunflowers with geometric ornaments

medium-sized black and color tattoo on forearm of realistic sunflower inside an ornamental mandala

large black and grey traditional tattoo on forearm of symmetrical sunflower with ornamental henna behind it

Sometimes you might want your body art to be a little more extravagant than simple designs or muted colors.

Maybe there is another image you or your tattoo artist can combine with the sunflower to enhance it, or maybe frame it with an image of gemstones. Basically, ornamental sunflower tattoos are just sunflower tattoos with an intricate addition, such as jewelry or gems.

Symbols, such as mandalas or peace signs, are popular ornamental designs because of their high symbolic significance and clear, easily recognizable shapes.

Perhaps a sunflower might be combined with other flowers, an intricate lacey design, or even an animal or other image that complements the flower. If you’re not sure what kind of ornamental sunflower tattoo you want, your tattoo artist should be able to work with you to come up with a perfect, beautifully ornate design.

7. Realistic Sunflower Tattoo

realistic colored tattoo on a woman's ankle of a dainty sunflower

small realistic colored tattoo on a woman's arm of a sunflower

medium-sized color tattoo on back on woman's upper arm of a realistic sunflower with stem

large color tattoo on woman's shoulder of realistic sunflower medium-sized color tattoo on back of woman's lower leg of a realistic sunflower with stem

medium-sized color tattoo on back of woman's lower leg of a realistic sunflower with stem

medium-sized color tattoo on woman's ribs of realistic sunflower with stem

large black and grey tattoo on woman's forearm of two realistic sunflowers with leaves and vines behind it

small matching color tattoos on two women's forearms of realistic sunflowers with stems

small color tattoo on woman's ankle of realistic sunflower with stem

medium-sized color tattoo on woman's ankle of realistic sunflower with leaves

medium-sized color tattoo on woman's forearm of realistic bouquet of sunflowers with leaves and stand tall quote

medium-sized muted color tattoo on upper arm of a realistic sunflower with a grey painted background

Sometimes the best sunflower tattoo for someone is a realistic tattoo, anywhere from watercolor style to the more intricate photorealistic design. A lot of people who get body art of flowers, plants, or animals prefer the tattoos to look like what they are instead of being left open to the interpretation of the artist or in imitation of a painter’s style. The beauty of body art and other forms of body modification is that they can be tweaked and adjusted to fit exactly what someone feels is right for them. Even realistic flower tattoos like those of sunflowers do not all have to look uniform (and since each artist has their own style, it is unlikely this would happen anyway, so the variety of design potential is as endless as the shapes and colors of actual sunflowers themselves. What qualifies as neutral or “realistic” colors and natural shapes define realistic sunflower tattoos.

8. Sunflower Tattoos with Stems

realistic black and grey tattoo on a woman's ankle of a dainty sunflower

large black and grey realistic sunflower on woman's forearm

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on woman's thigh of a realistic sunflower with stem

small color tattoo on woman's forearm of realistic sunflower with stem

medium-sized color tattoo on upper arm of realistic sunflower with stem and leaves

large black and grey line tattoo on lower leg of traditional sunflower with bold leaves and stem

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on lower leg of upside down realistic sunflower with stem and leaves

large black and grey dotwork tattoo on upper arm of realistic sunflower with bone tied to its stem and crescent moon behind

large black and grey tattoo on man's forearm of a realistic sunflower with stem and no leaves

large black and grey tattoo on inner elbow of realistic sunflower with thick stem and leaves

Even though the gigantic yellow blossoms and tightly packed seeds are easily recognizable as sunflowers and can be very beautiful on their own, sometimes the whole flower adds an extra pop of color or striking design. The realism allows for more versatility if other tattoos are added after the sunflower; even if the stems are significantly painted and extend over a large area of skin, they are thin enough in relation to the blossoms that even with the sunflower’s distinct leaves other plants or flowers can be carefully added in between. Since sunflower tattoos make excellent cover-up jobs, a sunflower tattoo with a stem might be more effective at covering up a design with an extended part or along a long, thin part of the body. Stems include leaves, and so a sunflower tattoo with a stem could easily be designed to go up an entire arm, or perhaps wrap around the ankle.

9. Sunflower Tattoo With a Woman

medium-sized black and grey line tattoo on back of woman's upper arm of a woman with a sunflower over her head

large black and grey tattoo on lower leg of sad woman's face with sunflower and flowers in her hair like a crown

large color tattoo on forearm of traditional naked woman with sunflower as head and leaves and butterfly around it

medium-sized color tattoo on man's forearm of the upper half of a woman holding realistic sunflowers over her body and face

A sunflower is a thing of beauty and so is the feminine form, whether bodily or facially. When an image of a woman and an image of a sunflower are combined they create a striking piece of art that evokes happiness and a surreal sort of beauty, especially when the sunflower is replacing or covering a body part such as the face. Flowers as replacements for body parts is not a new artistic concept, but every artist and their interpretation is unique. Therefore, even if the same woman was tattooed onto several different people with the instructions to incorporate or add sunflowers, each piece of body art would be vastly different. Some of it can be admittedly risque, but ultimately the truth is that tattoos are art and sunflowers with women more than qualify.

10. Sunflower Tattoo with a Skull

large traditional color tattoo on woman's upper arm of two sunflowers, a skull, and a bird

large black and color tattoo on lower leg of female skull with hair in a bun and sunflower in eye with stem growing in mouth

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on back of man's upper arm of a sunflower with a skull in its center and a stem

Contrast is exciting. Sunflower tattoos with a skull combine something beautiful and colorful with something typically associated with darkness, death, and alternative culture. The result is an image that may appear to be a normal sunflower at first glance but is ultimately proven to be an edgy, less conservative design. People who might be drawn to this sort of tattoo may not even think of having a sunflower design at first, but once they or you see the gorgeous examples minds are sure to change. It can be difficult to accurately portray the crevasses and cracks of the human skull on paper, so when the canvas is human skin the stakes are even higher. It can also be difficult when skulls and sunflowers are layered on top of one another, as part of each may be on the same color spectrum and so be hard to differentiate between once the initial brightness of the ink fades away.

11. Tattoo of a Sunflower Within a Bouquet

large black and grey realistic sunflower and daisy bouquet tattoo on woman's forearm

medium-sized black and grey tattoo of a sunflower and pansey bouquet on back of woman's upper arm

large black and grey tattoo on woman's thigh of a bouquet of sunflowers and peonies

large color tattoo on woman's upper arm of a small bouquet of a sunflower and a poppy

large black and grey half-sleeve tattoo on woman's forearm of realistic bouquet of sunflowers, pansies and butterflies

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on woman's ankle of a bouquet of a sunflower with smaller flowers and stems

large black and grey tattoo on inner forearm of realistic bouquet of a sunflower and wheatgrass with a bumble bee

Sometimes the best thing to frame and enhance a flower is another flower. sunflower tattoos that are part of a bouquet carry with them a classic beauty that is flattering to every skin color, style, and even body type. As the plant kingdom is incredibly vast and not only flowers are beautiful, there are heaps of possibilities. Leaves, grains, or even vegetables for a cornucopia effect are all viable options and when done by a highly skilled tattoo artist can be just as gorgeous as any full-color back piece with hyperrealistic shading. Another appealing aspect about sunflower bouquet tattoos is that that they bring forth feelings of relaxation and peace, such as on a warm summer evening with the sun setting and the temperature dropping just enough to be perfectly comfortable. When a design like this is finally worked out and finished, the end result is sure to elicit praise and excitement from all who see it.

12. Tiny Sunflower Tattoos

tiny colored realistic sunflower tattooo behind woman's ear

small color tattoo on woman of realistic sunflower with stem

tiny black line tattoo on woman's ankle of a sunflower with the word love in its stem

small color tattoo on woman's spine of a realistic sunflower shedding petals with stem and butterfly

Not everyone wants a huge, arm-covering design that elicits oohs and aahs from people who see it. Sometimes a tiny tattoo that isn’t always completely visible is the more appealing option.

Perhaps someone who gets a tiny sunflower tattoo wants to get something meaningful but subtle, or maybe it is even their first tattoo and they are worried about pain or sitting still for an extended time.

Even simpler and quicker are tiny minimalist sunflower tattoos; these typically involve simple lines and minimal color, if they contain any color other than black and gray. Part of the beauty of sunflowers is that even if they are portrayed in the smallest, simplest iteration the shape and design of the flower, stem, and leaves are so distinctly unique that most people can easily recognize it.

Being discreet, adorable, and quick to get done make tiny sunflower tattoos a surefire hit with many tattoo enthusiasts.

13. Traditional Sunflower Tattoo

traditional black and grey sunflower tattoo on woman's forearm

medium-sized traditional color tattoo on woman's arm of a sunflower with filigree

large tattoo on lower leg of colored traditional sunflower and caterpillar

medium-sized black and grey tattoo on woman's forearm of traditional sunflower with vine wrapping around arm

large black and grey tattoo on forearm of two traditional sunflowers with leaves around them

large black and grey traditional tattoo on man's forearm of a bouquet of sunflowers and a daisy with leaves behind them

large black and grey traditional tattoo on man's upper arm of a pocket watch with two sunflowers and leaves behind

Sometimes classics are classics because they truly are timelessly appealing. This applies to many things including but not limited to cars, music, and tattoos.

While it can be a thin line to walk when trying to find a design that is appealing but not cliche, sunflowers are commonplace enough they have come full circle.

Instead of being so common it’s unoriginal, a traditional sunflower tattoo is timelessly lovely and unlikely to lose its appeal as trends change. While it is true that the brighter a tattoo is colored the easier it is for it to fade, traditional sunflower tattoos have the unique ability to still look good or even improve in appearance over time.

The traditional design evokes Americana, a simpler sort of life than most people are currently able to live; faded ink adds to this aesthetic. Still, if touchups are needed a traditional sunflower is straightforward enough to be a simple job.

Sunflowers and images of sunflowers are wildly popular for many reasons. Sunflowers tend to be tougher than other flowers and can grow so tall they seem to form a silent jungle within their stalks. On clothing and skin as tattoos, sunflowers are much like red or coral lipstick in that they are universally flattering.

It can be overwhelming to face all the options for sunflower tattoos and try to make a decision. But really, if none of the ones you see feel right do not feel obligated or pressured to choose one.

Some tattoo artists will help you pick out the right design for you, and others may have the time and skill to create a custom-designed piece or work with you to create or modify something.

Don’t be afraid to have only a vague idea of what you want, but don’t be surprised if most artists prefer you have a solid plan in place before they work on you. Research the designs that interest you and enjoy your new body art!