Hostas are beautiful plants used to accent gardens. Their unique color patterns and shading catch the eye, immediately soothing thanks to the cooling greens and calming yellows.
Hosta tattoos are not only beautiful but come with symbolism and meaning, making them a popular choice for ink enthusiasts around the world. While each person may have a personal meaning for their tattoo, hosta tattoos tend to symbolize friendship and devotion.
Below, we’ll dive deeper into the history of hosta flower tattoos and take a look at their symbolism, meaning, and more.
What is the History of Hosta Tattoos?
Hostas are native to Japan, covering the grounds of lush grasses and mountains. They became of western interest in the 1600s when travelers noticed their beautiful colors and unique shapes. These days, you can find them in many gardens, used to fill in spots and add pops of green here and there.
Tattoos have been popular for some time and have continued to grow in popularity over the last decade.
Among the most popular tattoos are flowers, especially those with deeper meanings and symbolism. Today, you can find them in most tattoo shops, either with green foliage or in full bloom.
Though hosta plants are in most tattoo studios, what they symbolize is not always clear. Instead, they tend to choose them because of their colors and their beauty, becoming pleasantly surprised when they find out about the symbolism and meaning they come with.
What Do Hosta Symbolize?
A hosta plant is a symbol of friendship and devotion. They are calm plants that are easy to maintain and love the shade. When they are happy, they start to bloom, revealing beautiful purple flowers that pair perfectly with their deep green leaves.
It’s for this reason that the plant started to rise in popularity, with many comparing it to a good friendship. Friendships don’t need a lot of work to keep up and will make you feel calm and soothed when you’re near them. Much like the hosta plant, a good friendship should be effortless and energizing.
While this symbolism is true in most cases, there could be other reasons to choose a hosta plant as a tattoo. When it comes to tattoos, each one is individual, and the meaning and symbolism can shift. If you see someone with a hosta tattoo, ask them what it means and see what they say.
What Do Hosta Tattoos Mean?
Just like with all tattoos, the meaning depends on the individual. For some, there is a personal meaning as to why they got a particular tattoo. In general, hosta tattoos are a symbol of friendship and devotion. They are beautiful and easy to manage, just like a good friendship.
Because the hosta plant grows in the shade and puts forth beautiful colors when in bloom, many see it as a soothing and calming symbol. While some follow this general meaning of hosta flowers, it’s also common to think of hosta flowers as symbolizing a new begging or a transformation of some sort.
Flowers of all sorts tend to come with meaning of growth, change, resilience and beauty. This is the reason why flowers are one of the most popular tattoos around. They are not only beautiful on the skin but can come with a lot of deeper meaning too, making them perfect for a tattoo.
Where Do Hosta Tattoos Usually Go?
There are a number of places on the body that are popular for flower tattoos. When it comes to hosta flowers, placement usually depends on the size. For instance, larger hosta tattoos with flowers in full bloom tend to go on the feet, legs, back, or arm.
Though these are not the only places, these tend to be the most common with larger hosta tattoos. For smaller, more delicate hosta tattoos, many choose areas like the inner wrist, the shoulder, behind the ear, and even along the earlobe.
When it comes to choosing a spot for your tattoo, it’s really an individual choice. You should consider where you want it and how big you would like your tattoo to be before stepping into the tattoo studio, having a good idea of what it is that you’re hoping for.
Once you think you know where you want it to go, start thinking about placement, angles, and whether you want color or just a black outline. You can always browse the web or take the artist’s suggestion for inspiration, seeing what they think would look great in the spot you’ve chosen for your tattoo.
Characteristics and Styles of Hosta Tattoos
Hosta tattoos come in all shapes and sizes. On top of that, there are many talented tattoo artists out there that have created beautiful designs that highlight the plant in a whole new light. Some common characteristics of hosta tattoos include:
- Deep green foliage with golden highlights
- Large leaves that form a beautiful shape
- Flowers in bloom of all colors
- Hosta flowers combined with other plants
The sky’s the limit when it comes to characteristics. It’s recommended to work with a knowledgeable artist that can take your requests and make them a reality, understanding how to work with designs and colors. For some inspiration, some common styles include:
- Black and white unfilled hosta tattoo with both leaves and flowers
- Hosta flowers in full bloom surrounded by green leaves with shading from dark to light green
- Hosta flowers with animals like birds or butterflies
- Hosta flowers mixed with other flowers in a beautiful and colorful artistic tattoo
Conclusion
Hosta tattoos are growing in popularity and have a beautiful meaning behind them. While collecting inspiration, think about the meaning and symbolism. Also, take a look at places where others have put their tattoo, using them as inspiration to come up with your own.
