'anthotaxis' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anthos' and 'taxis', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'taxis' meant 'arrangement or ordering'.

'anthotaxis' was formed in scientific Neo-Latin/Modern Greek-based coinage for botanical use and was adopted into English technical vocabulary in botanical literature (19th–20th century).

Initially it meant 'flower arrangement' in the literal sense from its Greek roots, and this core meaning has been retained in modern botanical usage.