'arboreta' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'arboretum', where 'arbor' meant 'tree' and the suffix '-etum' denoted 'a place for' or 'a collection of'.

'arboreta' changed from the New Latin/Latin plural of 'arboretum' and was adopted into English usage as the plural form of the English word 'arboretum'.

Initially it meant 'a place planted with trees' or 'a plantation of trees', and over time it has retained this basic meaning as 'places where trees are grown for study or display'.