'botanophobia' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'botanē' (βοτάνη), where 'botan-' meant 'plant', combined with 'phobia' from Greek 'phobos' meaning 'fear'.

'botanophobia' is a modern coinage formed from Greek roots via New Latin/Neo-Latin combining 'botan-' + '-phobia' and entered English as the compound noun 'botanophobia' in modern usage.

Initially, it meant 'fear of plants', and over time it has retained that same basic meaning of an irrational or excessive fear of plants.