Spider lilies are quietly dramatic — delicate, spidery petals that somehow feel both fragile and fierce. I fell for them the way I fall for songs that make me cry: slowly, then all at once. If you’re thinking about a red spider lily tattoo (or you’re already obsessed like me), these designs are full of symbolism, style, and little moments that might just fit your story. Here are 34 ideas to spark what you want to wear on your skin.
A realistic forearm piece — red spider lily with a butterfly
Credit: jeminren
This forearm piece mixes a red spider lily with a red butterfly, and honestly it feels like a quiet little ritual. In some traditions the lily is about remembering those we’ve lost, and the butterfly feels like that bond sticking around — fluttering, alive, after they’re gone. It’s beautiful and kind of tender in a way that makes you want to cup your hands around it.
A playful upper-arm bow made from a spider lily
Credit: myo_ryung
Imagine the stem twining into a cute bow while a butterfly hovers nearby in black and gray — the contrast gives the whole thing more personality. The bow feels like connection, like ties to people or memories, and the darker butterfly hues sort of nod to the idea of moving on. It’s sweet and a little wistful.
Spider lily as a lucky charm
Credit: beetattoo.karmon
This one wraps the flowers into a lucky charm vibe — delicate, detailed, and protective. Spider lilies have long been thought to shield against bad energy, and as a charm they feel like a pocket-sized talisman you wear every day. I love the idea of carrying that calm, positive energy with you.
An artistic take — spider lily plus a nod to Creation of Adam
Credit: naptinomeseleyi
This one mixes red spider lilies with a sketchy, Michelangelo-inspired reach — like the hands from Creation of Adam. The red connects to life and passion, the gray tones to the quieter, spiritual side; together they feel like a little reminder that the human and the divine can touch. If you’re spiritual and love symbolism, this reads like a prayer and a painting all at once.
Half-sleeve: butterfly, machete, and spider lilies
Credit: vuia_ink
This one is wild—in the best way. A half-sleeve with patterned shapes, spider lilies, and a butterfly machete inside a circle. The lilies remind us of the edge of life, that bittersweet idea that mortality makes everything shine brighter. Wear it as a nudge to squeeze the juice out of every day and be a little more alive.
Delicate fine-line spider lilies on the thigh
Credit: goyotattooart
If you like feminine and understated, this thigh piece is soft and refined in black and gray, with two spider lilies whispering a tragic-love story. Maybe it’s for unrequited feelings, or a separation that still hurts — either way, it holds sadness and nostalgia without being loud. It’s quiet and honest.
Bold mix: a snake curled with spider lilies
Credit: tattooist_mate
This one pairs the snake — a classic symbol of transformation — with spider lilies, which bring mortality into the picture. Together they read as a reminder to chase growth while remembering life’s fragility. It’s dramatic and meaningful, like a little story of change inked on your skin.
A floral sword across the back
Credit: onyo_flowertattoo
Picture spider lilies in red framing a sword done in black and gray. The lilies give a sense of protection, the sword is strength — together they feel like your own gentle armor. Perfect if you want something that says you’ll protect your peace.
A cute black cat holding a spider lily umbrella
Credit: seolheetattoo
Not everything has to be moody — this little black cat with a spider lily umbrella is a total mood-lifter. It reads like a tiny charm, reminding you that nature has quiet magic that can heal. Sweet, playful, and completely heartwarming.
Forearm story: nine-tailed foxes and spider lilies
Credit: seolheetattoo
Two nine-tailed foxes, butterflies, and spider lilies — all about transformation and new beginnings. This design feels like a myth come to life, a wearable reminder that you can always start again and grow into something altogether different.
Totoro running with a spider lily
Credit: chacha_ink
Totoro holding a spider lily feels funny and tender at once. The flower nudges us to remember life’s fragility, but Totoro brings warmth and joy — together they say: life is short, but there’s still room for wonder and simple happiness.
Two lilies as yin and yang on the forearm
Credit: aletattoo.art
One spider lily in bright red, one in deep black — this feels like a small philosophy on your skin. The black honors mortality, the red celebrates the preciousness of life. It’s quiet, balanced, and makes you pause.
When spider lilies meet cherry blossoms
Credit: ssuncolor
Red spider lilies paired with cherry blossoms — talk about contrast and harmony. The colors pop, the dotwork gives it texture, and together they suggest that endings can also be beginnings. It’s hopeful, even in its melancholy.
A dragon woven through spider lilies on the thigh
Credit: hamnessy
Here the dragon is drawn in softer black-and-gray tones, while the spider lilies sing in red. The image balances vulnerability with power — a nice reminder that both are part of being human.
Subtle dotwork for remembrance
Credit: bamnavi_tattoo
Two red blooms with gentle dotwork — perfect if you want a memorial piece that’s understated. It’s beautiful without shouting, like a private note folded into your skin.
Koi fish circling spider lilies — yin and yang in motion
Credit: carolinastattoo
Koi fish meet spider lilies and suddenly your tattoo reads like a pep talk: life’s fleeting, but you can still fill it with meaning and purpose. Inspiring and gently optimistic.
Small ankle spider lily — tiny but bright
Credit: uhhhhtaco
Ankle tattoos like this one are subtle and easy to love. Small, sweet, and the red color still grabs your eye — a quiet pop of personality.
Spider lilies as a delicate thread — soft and feminine
Credit: chimney_tattoo
This design treats the lilies like a soft thread, gently weaving a message about how our lives are intertwined. It’s tender and reminds you how much of an impact we have on each other.
A lone traveler discovering a red spider lily
Credit: tim.luijten.ink
A traveler in black and gray finds a red spider lily — a small revelation in the journey. It reads like a page from a novel: quiet, reflective, and a little magical.
Spider lilies drifting in the clouds
Credit: boomzodat
This design looks like a watercolor dream — lilies floating against a soft sky. It feels poetic, like you’re carrying a little storybook moment wherever you go.
Butterfly bloom near the collarbone
Credit: 1sle_tattoo
Delicate and graceful, this collarbone piece makes the petals feel almost wing-like. It’s movement, transformation, and quiet freedom all in one small placement.
Simple and stunning along the ribcage
Credit: 1sle_tattoo
A single spider lily etched on the rib — minimal, intimate, and unexpectedly detailed. It feels like a secret reminder just for you.
A field reaching up — touch of the sky on the upper arm
Credit: foret_tattoo
Vibrant petals reaching toward a blue-sky background — this one gives off a fresh, open vibe. It reads like an instant mood lifter, perfect for remembering clear days.
Single-stemmed elegance along the forearm
Credit: tatu_panda
A long graceful stem that guides the eye — minimal and flowing. This is for people who love quiet statements: simple, elegant, and full of movement.
A small ankle blossom (soft and breezy)
Credit: lena_fedchenko
Just above the ankle, with a curved stem and gentle petals — it sways like a flower in the wind. Subtlety with a lot of charm.
Collarbone whispers — tiny twin lilies
Credit: 44catt
Two small lilies that sit along the collarbone like a delicate necklace. It’s a little adornment that highlights rather than overshadows.
Graceful spider lily across the upper back
Credit: lena_fedchenko
A single bloom perched on the upper back, the stem trailing down in a soft flow. It feels like nature nesting itself into your movement.
Bold centerpiece on the upper back
Credit: Hailin Tattoo Studio
A big, dramatic lily that fans out like living jewelry. Symmetry plus the long stem down the spine makes it feel both powerful and elegant.
A tiny bloom behind the ear — subtle and playful
Credit: Studio by Sol
This one is the definition of a secret: small behind-the-ear ink that adds a playful, personal touch whenever your hair moves.
Gentle rib tattoo — soft pinkish-red petals
Credit: Nando
Thin stem, soft petals, close to the heart. Quiet and intimate, this one sits like a small memory you can reach for.
Lower-back floral centerpiece
Credit: Ida
A vibrant lily centered at the lower back with a couple of leaves for balance — grounded, bold, and kind of unapologetic.
Intricate harmony: a little dragon framed by lilies
Credit: sen.tattoos
A small dragon nestled in a rectangle with lilies growing out of the frame — highly detailed, almost like you can smell the petals. It feels alive and cinematic.
Classic spine bloom — centered elegance
Credit: blackcloudtattoos
A centered lily that runs down the spine, graceful and timeless. It’s a sophisticated choice that reads like a signature.
A heart-centered lily for intimate strength
Credit: tmr.tattoo
Placed at the center of the chest, the petals bloom outward like something rising from the heart. It’s intimate and symbolic — a soft declaration of inner strength.
Wrap-Up
Whether you want something soft and secret or bold and story-filled, spider lilies hold this beautiful tension between joy and remembrance. They’re fragile and fierce at once — a perfect little contradiction to wear. So which one pulled at you? If you end up getting inked, please tell me which design you picked — I want to know your story.