Tree Tattoo Ideas

Popular Tree Tattoo Styles

For centuries, the tree has held important symbolism for cultures around the world. Many people choose to recognize that importance and connection by adding to their body a tree tattoo. Some of the most popular styles of tree tattoos include:

• Dead tree – This style shows a tree with no leaves allowing the unique architecture of the tree to be the focus of the design.
• Family tree – The natural elements of the tree are combined with the names of family members to commemorate the bonds of family.
• Tree of Life – A centerpiece of mythology, the Tree of Life can make an important cultural statement which makes it a powerful design choice.
• Tree with nature – In this tree tattoo design style, the tree is often seen with a moon, sun, clouds and birds or other natural elements.

Best Tree Tattoo Placements

With expansive branches and deep roots your tree tattoo needs to go into just the right place. Thankfully you can see what others have done and use that as inspiration for where to place your newest piece of body art.

• Back – This is perhaps the most obvious location as it provides the most open space to expand the tree’s branches and roots.
• Shoulder – This is a popular location for people who design a tree tattoo to represent their family tree. 
• Side of the calf – For more simple, almost abstract designs, the outside of the calf is a unique location.
• Wrist – This may not be the first place you think about, but more and more people are putting a minimalist-style tree tattoo on the inside of their wrist.

Women’s Tree Tattoo Ideas

Women tend to prefer tree tattoo designs that are more gentle and nature-based. This means that using trees like willows and dogwoods are common subjects. And women will also tend to use designs that place trees in landscapes with flowers at their base, or animals (like a bird) nearby.

Men’s Tree Tattoo Ideas

Popular tree tattoos for men include designs of oaks, pines, and other trees that project a sturdy nature. Also, with its connection to mythology, the Tree of Life is an increasingly popular choice for men.

Tree Tattoo Meaning

For thousands of years, the tree has held a special importance to humans, both in a symbolic and practical way. You can celebrate this connection with a tree tattoo. The design and style that you choose will be dependent on what the meaning is that you want your tattoo to have. Some of the more popular meanings of a tree tattoo are:

• A natural connection – Because of their size and stature, trees are often at the center of nature.
• Family – In this tree tattoo design, the tree takes on a symbolic position to represent family.
• Renewal – Many trees have a cyclical nature of shedding their leaves (dying) and then regrowing them (rebirth).
• Strength  – Trees are popular in stories for their ability to bend and twist in the elements but to otherwise stay strong.
• Wisdom – In many ancient myths, trees hold wisdom or act as a home to creatures and spirits who have wisdom.