'botanophile' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'botanē' meaning 'plant', combined with the Greek-derived suffix '-phile' from 'philos' meaning 'loving' or 'fond of'.

'botanophile' was formed in Modern English by combining the stem of 'botany' (via Latin/French forms of the Greek root) with the suffix '-phile' (a common combining form in English borrowed from Greek), producing the compound 'botanophile'.

Initially it meant 'one who loves plants' and over time has retained that core meaning as a term for plant lovers or plant collectors.