'florophilia' originates from a learned hybrid of Latin and Greek: Latin 'flos, floris' (specifically the root 'flor-') where 'flor-' meant 'flower', combined with Greek 'philia' where 'philia' meant 'love' or 'affection'.

'florophilia' was formed in modern English as a learned compound from the classical elements 'flora'/'flor-' and the Greek suffix '-philia'; coinages using '-philia' attached to botanical roots became more common in the 19th–20th centuries, producing terms like 'florophilia'.

Initially coined to mean 'love of flowers', the term has retained that specific meaning in modern usage, though it remains relatively rare and chiefly used in literary or specialized contexts.