'small-flowered' originates from the combination of 'small' and 'flowered', where 'small' meant 'little in size' and 'flowered' referred to 'having flowers'.

'small-flowered' evolved from the Old English word 'smæl' for 'small' and the Middle English 'flouren' for 'flowered', eventually becoming the modern English word 'small-flowered'.

Initially, it meant 'having small flowers', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.