If you’re looking for something beautiful and delicate to draw the eye, the morning glory flower is an excellent choice of floral tattoo for you. The delicate trumpet-like flowers with their connecting vines can make a stunning image with a unique meaning for you to enjoy.
The morning glory often features a blue or purple flower surrounded by vines. As a tattoo, it’s an elegant image which can symbolize both life and love, and the transient state of both.
This article looks at the history, meaning and symbolism of this delicate tattoo and the flower that inspired it.
What is The History of Morning Glory Tattoos?
The history of morning glory tattoos is not well documented, but their history as a flower is widespread. It is likely that they joined the lexicon of floral imagery for tattoos at some time after their introduction to one of the many cultures that popularized them.
Morning glories are so named because they often bloom in the early morning, though they can flower at other times of the day. There are several different breeds of Morning Glory native to many different climates.
Despite the name, different species of morning glories have been known to bloom in the morning, during the day, and even during the night. Late-night blooming flowers are often called moonflowers.
Due to the vines common to most of the species, these flowers are often called bindweed.
History of Morning Glories:
- The most common species of morning glory is native to Mexico.
- It was considered a spiritual flower among the Mayan, Aztec, and certain North American Tribal cultures.
- Records indicate the Japanese have cultivated other species of morning glories since the 9th century
- Other records indicate the Chinese people once used the flower as a medicinal herb – specifically a laxative.
- It became part of the Victorian Flower Language during its height, with subtle changes in meaning based on colors.
What Do Morning Glories Symbolize?
Morning Glories have a number of symbolic meanings. Both color and culture can influence the meaning behind the flower.
Potential general meanings include:
– In Victorian Tradition, the flower represents Unrequited Love or Love in Vain
– Christian tradition holds that morning glories symbolize Mortality of Life
– In Chinese tradition, morning glories symbolized the fleeting meetings between lovers, to prevent youngsters from neglecting their duties.
Color Symbolism and Meanings Include:
– White: Purity, Innocence, Healing or Rebirth
– Red: Passion and a Strong Heart
– Red Alternative: Wealth, Seduction and Desire
– Pink: Gentle Feelings and Thoughtfulness, sometimes Romantically.
– Hot Pink: Gratitude, Energy and Playfulness
– Blue: Trust and Respect
– Blue Alternative: Peace, Intuition, Intelligence and Infinity
– Indigo/Purple: Nobility, Royalty and Beauty
– Yellow: Warmth, Fresh Starts, and Healing
What Do Morning Glory Tattoos Mean?
The most common meaning for Morning Glory tattoos is its relationship to the month of September. Morning Glories are one of the birth flowers of September.
In some cases, it’s thought to represent a person’s life journey. The winding vines can resemble the journey itself, where the flowers symbolize major breakthroughs, or comebacks in a situation.
The blue color commonly used in tattoos may symbolize Beauty, as well as Trust, Peace and Intelligence. This may represent a person’s belief in these qualities, or search for Beauty and Peace in their lives.
Purple morning glory tattoos may represent Nobility, either sought for or remembered.
Tattooed Pink Morning Glories are associated with gentle feelings, and may represent fond memories of love lost or unrequited. A deeper pink may symbolize additional feelings of playfulness or gratitude.
A tattooed white morning glory is often a reminder of a lost child, a memorial of love and innocence no longer here. These often have names or dates attached.
A white morning glory may also symbolize a feeling of rebirth or rejuvenation.
Where Do Morning Glory Tattoos Usually Go?
The morning glory possesses an elegant trumpet shape that makes it an excellent choice for just about any location. From single flowers to multiple-bloom arrangements, this floral design can be found in just about every location body art is applied.
Large single blooms often adorn the forearm and upper arm. Morning glories are also often used in sleeve-like artwork.
Across the ribs and back is a popular choice for a sprawling vine-and-bloom pattern of images.
The ankles and top of the feet are more likely to have small single or double flowers.
Miniature flowers are sometimes found on the wrists or collarbones.
There are plenty of other locations, including behind the ear, where morning glory tattoos can be found.
Style and Characteristics of Morning Glory Tattoos:
Morning glories are well-known for the trumpet shape of the flowers, and the feature is a principal component of their use as tattoos.
Other common characteristics Include:
– Flowers are often shown in full bloom.
– Vines and leaves often form part of the imagery.
– Flowers are most often done in blues and purples, though pinks and reds are also used at times.
– When depicted with other imagery, they are often shown with hummingbirds or butterflies. Aside from deeper meanings, butterflies and hummingbirds are often attracted to morning glories in nature.
When it comes to styles, morning glories are depicted in illustrated imagery, realistic imagery, and sometimes mandala-style tattoos. The symmetry of the trumpet petal formation makes it an excellent choice for the last style.
– Black and white sketch-style designs are often done in a realistic manner, which highlights the delicate details of the flower petals.
– Mandala styles can be both traditional mandala styles, or have Celtic or Cristian overtones. The Morning Glory and cross formation is a popular choice.
– Morning Glory flowers are a popular choice for framing or use in fantasy tattoos, with fairies or other mythical imagery in tattoos.
– Illustrated images can be simple or intricate.
No matter what depiction of the flower you find suits you best, you’ll find a tattoo that adds a wealth of symbolism and beauty to your personal artwork.
