In a retrospective article about the development of Chapter 5, developer Toby Fox stated that Flowery was inspired by a common misspelling of Flowey's name among Undertale fans in the months following that game's release. This is reflected in early concept art showing Flowery with a head-and-neck collar designed after Flowey's petals and a green hoodie corresponding to Flowey's stem. Flowery's final design was put together by Studio Khara staffer Touko Yatabe during the production of his introductory FMV.

The Flowey inspiration is further alluded to throughout Flowery's appearances in Chapter 5. In addition to being a golden flower in the Light World, Flowery's initial theme, "Your Dad's Best Friend", nods to the title of Flowey's motif, "Your Best Friend". The latter is itself quoted partway through Flowery's battle theme, "Flower Man". Additionally, during the battle against Flowery, the flavor text will occasionally read "Flowery emits the fragrance of hope!" and "Flowery holds onto his dream.", referencing "Hopes and Dreams", the battle theme against Spoiler:Asriel, Flowey's true form, in Undertale. One of Flowery's lines during the fight additionally muses on a version of events where he and the party didn't have to fight one another, calling it a "pacifist root," referencing the colloquial term for the Undertale route wherein the player beats the game while sparing every monster, culminating in Spoiler:the aforementioned Asriel fight.

Prior to Chapter 5's release, the "Flowery" misspelling was also alluded to in an interview with Sans and Papyrus included in one of the editions of the Undertale/Deltarune newsletter, in which Papyrus repeatedly mis-remembers Flowey's name as "Flowery."