'flower-lover' is a modern English compound formed from the nouns 'flower' and 'lover'; 'flower' ultimately comes via Old French (e.g. 'flour'/'flor') from Latin 'flos, floris' meaning 'flower', and 'lover' derives from Old English verbs/nouns related to 'lufian'/'lufu' meaning 'to love'/'love'.

'flower' changed from Old French 'flour' (from Latin 'flos') into Middle English 'flour'/'flower', and 'lover' comes from Old English forms related to 'lufian'; the two elements were combined in Modern English into the compound 'flower-lover'.

The components originally referred to 'flower' (the blossom) and 'lover' (one who loves); when combined the compound has meant 'someone who loves flowers' since its formation and retains that basic sense.