Birth month flowers are having a massive moment right now. Honestly, it’s not just because they look pretty on a forearm or an ankle. People are moving away from generic roses and toward something a bit more specific to their own timeline. If you’re looking at a larkspur and water lily tattoo, you’re likely celebrating July. Or maybe you just love the way a tall, spiked flower looks next to a floating, waxy bloom. It's a killer contrast.
You’ve got the larkspur, which shoots up toward the sky with these intense, saturated blues and purples. Then you have the water lily, sitting heavy and peaceful on the surface of a pond. One is airy; the other is watery. Most people don’t realize that these two flowers represent the duality of the July spirit. It's kind of wild when you think about it. You have the "old" birth flower, the larkspur, and the "new" one, the water lily. Putting them together in one piece of ink tells a story of transition, depth, and a little bit of drama.
The weird history behind July’s double flowers
Why are there two? It’s a question that pops up a lot in tattoo shops. Basically, different cultures and botanical authorities have shifted things around over the decades. The larkspur is the classic, traditional birth flower for July. It’s part of the Delphinium family—named after the Greek word for dolphin because the flower buds supposedly look like little dolphin noses. It stands for strong bonds of love and an open heart.
Then you have the water lily. In many modern lists, the water lily took over or joined the larkspur as the July representative. Water lilies are steeped in ancient Egyptian and Buddhist symbolism. They represent rebirth because they literally rise from the mud every morning to bloom. When you combine them in a larkspur and water lily tattoo, you aren’t just getting a bouquet. You’re getting a symbol of someone who is both grounded in the earth (the lily) and reaching for something higher (the larkspur).
Tattoo artist Sasha Masiuk, known for her incredible floral linework, often talks about how botanical tattoos need to follow the flow of the body. The larkspur is perfect for this. Because it’s a vertical flower, it works wonders on "long" parts of the body like the shin, the side of the ribs, or the outer arm. The water lily, being more circular and symmetrical, acts as a perfect anchor at the base of the design.
Choosing your color palette: It's more than just aesthetics
Color matters. It really does. In the world of Victorian "floriography"—which was basically the 19th-century version of texting with flowers—different colors changed the entire message.
If you go with a pink larkspur, you’re talking about contrariness or even fickleness. Kind of a moody vibe, right? White larkspurs usually signal a happy-go-lucky nature. But the blue? That’s the heavy hitter. Blue larkspurs represent grace and dignity. Most people getting a larkspur and water lily tattoo lean into the blues and purples because they pop so well against skin tones, especially when contrasted with the white or pale pink of a water lily.
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Water lilies have their own rules. A white water lily is the universal symbol of purity. If you go for a red one, you're looking at passion. But let’s be real for a second: white ink in tattoos is tricky. It fades fast. It can turn yellowish over time. If you want that "white" lily look, a smart artist will actually use negative space—your own skin tone—and shade around it with soft greys to make it look bright.
Why placement is the "make or break" for this design
You can't just slap a vertical flower and a floating pond flower anywhere and hope it looks good. The geometry is tricky. Think about the "S" curve of your body. A larkspur and water lily tattoo thrives when it mimics natural growth.
- The Forearm Wrap: Have the larkspur stem follow the bone from the wrist up toward the elbow. The water lily can sit right at the wrist bone, acting as a "weight" for the piece.
- The Rib Cage: This is for the brave. The long larkspur can follow the curve of your ribs, while the lily sits tucked toward the back or the hip. It’s a painful spot, but the verticality of the larkspur makes you look taller.
- The Shoulder Blade: You can create a "bouquet" effect here. Instead of the flowers being separate, have them bunch together. It’s a softer, more feminine approach.
I’ve seen some people try to do these in a "fine line" style. It looks amazing on day one. But here is the truth: fine line tattoos without enough contrast can turn into a blurry mess in five years. If you’re getting a larkspur and water lily tattoo, make sure your artist uses enough black "packing" in the center of the flowers. You need those dark shadows to keep the lighter petals from disappearing into your skin as you age.
The "Mud and Light" philosophy
There’s something deeply human about the water lily’s life cycle. It starts in the muck. It grows through murky water. It only opens when it hits the sun. A lot of people get this tattoo during a recovery phase or after a big life change. It’s a "started from the bottom" vibe but with flowers.
The larkspur adds a layer of protection to that. In some folklore, larkspurs were used to ward off ghosts and scorpions (though maybe don't try that at home). It’s the "shield" to the lily’s "soul." When you put them together, you’re saying you’ve been through the mud, you’ve bloomed, and you’re standing tall.
Technical things your tattoo artist wants you to know
Don't just walk in with a Pinterest photo. Most of those are filtered to death or "fresh" (meaning they were taken 10 minutes after the needle stopped). A fresh larkspur and water lily tattoo looks vibrant because the skin is irritated and the ink is sitting on the surface.
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Ask your artist about "line weight." Do you want a bold, traditional look? Or a soft, illustrative "watercolor" style? If you go watercolor, keep in mind that without a black outline, the colors will eventually bleed into each other. A "skeletal" black outline—even a very thin one—will act like a fence, keeping your blues and pinks exactly where they belong.
Also, consider the "stamen" of the water lily. That’s the yellow stuff in the middle. Yellow is a notoriously difficult pigment for some people’s skin to hold. If your body rejects yellow ink, your water lily might end up looking like it has a hollow center. Talk to your artist about using a golden-brown or an orange-yellow to give it more "staying power."
Common mistakes to avoid
One big mistake? Scaling it too small. The larkspur has tiny, intricate petals on a long stalk. If you try to fit a full larkspur and a water lily into a two-inch space on your ankle, it’s going to look like a bruised smudge in a decade. Detail needs room to breathe. If you want detail, go bigger. If you want small, simplify the shapes.
Another thing is the "background." Do you want water ripples? Do you want "wind" lines for the larkspur? Sometimes less is more. Let the flowers speak for themselves. You don't always need a full pond scene behind your water lily. A few simple blue "splashes" or just some expert shading can do the trick.
Real-world inspiration and styles
You’ll see a lot of "Neo-traditional" versions of this. Think bold lines, heavy saturation, and maybe a bee or a dragonfly added in for movement. It’s a classic choice for a reason—it lasts. Then there’s the "Korean Fine Line" style, which is incredibly delicate and uses soft gradients. It looks like a painting on the skin. Just remember the maintenance: fine line work often requires touch-ups every few years to stay crisp.
Honestly, the best larkspur and water lily tattoo is the one that fits your specific July story. Maybe you were born in July, or maybe your child was. Maybe July was the month you finally quit that job you hated. Whatever the reason, these two flowers provide a visual language that is both tough and tender.
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Preparing for your session
Before you head to the studio, do your homework. Look for artists who specialize in "botanical" or "illustrative" work. Check their healed portfolios—not just the fresh stuff.
- Hydrate: Drink a ton of water the week before. Hydrated skin takes ink way better than dry, flaky skin.
- Exfoliate: Gently exfoliate the area a few days prior. Don't go crazy and raw, just get the dead skin off.
- Contrast: If you have a darker skin tone, ask your artist to lean into higher contrast. Deep purples and magentas look incredible on melanin-rich skin, while some pale blues might get lost.
- Size matters: Be open to the artist's suggestion to go 20% larger than you originally planned. They aren't trying to charge you more; they're trying to make sure the tattoo doesn't turn into a blob.
The larkspur and water lily tattoo is a powerhouse of symbolism. It’s about the heights we reach and the depths we come from. Whether you get it for the July connection or just because you’re a fan of botanical art, it’s a piece that carries a lot of weight. Keep the lines clean, choose your colors wisely, and give it the space it needs to bloom on your skin.
Check your artist’s Instagram for "healed" tags. This is the only way to see how their floral work actually stands the test of time. Look for lines that haven't spread too much and colors that still have a bit of punch. If their healed work looks muddy, keep looking. Your skin is a permanent canvas, and a complex duo like the larkspur and water lily deserves an expert hand.
Don't settle for a flash-sheet design if you want something meaningful. Bring photos of real larkspurs and real water lilies to your artist. Show them the specific curve of the petal or the exact shade of "midnight blue" you’re envisioning. A custom design will always feel more "you" than something pulled off a wall.
Once the ink is in, follow the aftercare instructions to the letter. No sun. No swimming. No picking. Flowers need time to grow, and your floral tattoo needs time to settle. Give it a solid two to four weeks of babying, and you’ll have a piece of art that stays as vibrant as a July afternoon for years to come.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit Your Artist: Browse portfolios specifically for "botanical" or "floral" categories. Look for clean junctions where the larkspur stem meets the petals.
- Define Your "Why": Decide if you want to emphasize the "heart" (larkspur) or "rebirth" (water lily) aspects so the artist can prioritize one flower over the other in the composition.
- Test the Colors: If you're unsure about how blues or purples will look on your skin, ask for a "color test"—a few tiny dots of ink in a discreet area—to see how they heal over a month.
- Map the Flow: Stand in front of a mirror and use a marker to draw a simple line where you want the "spine" of the larkspur to go. This helps you visualize how it moves when you walk or reach for things.