'low-flowering' is a compound formed from the adjective 'low' and the verb/root 'flower' plus the suffix '-ing'. 'low' originates from Old English (forms such as 'hlāw' in related uses) where it conveyed notions of low height; 'flower' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'flor', ultimately from Latin 'florem' (stem of 'flos') where 'flos' meant 'flower'.

'flower' changed from Latin 'flos'/'florem' into Old French 'flor' and then into Middle English forms like 'flour' before becoming modern English 'flower'. The present-participle/gerund-form 'flowering' developed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the verb. 'low' developed from Old English roots into the modern adjective meaning 'not high'.

Individually, 'flower' originally referred to the blossom and 'flowering' to the process of producing blossoms; when combined with 'low' the compound came to describe the characteristic of having blossoms that are limited in number or positioned low on the plant. The modern meaning is 'producing few or low-placed flowers'.