North America Non-native Plant

Cordyla

Botanical name: Cordyla

USDA symbol: CORDY3

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Cordyla: The Mystery Plant That’s Hard to Pin Down If you’ve stumbled upon the name Cordyla in your gardening research, you’re not alone in scratching your head. This particular plant name presents quite the botanical puzzle, and here’s what we know (and don’t know) about it. What We Know About ...

Cordyla: The Mystery Plant That’s Hard to Pin Down

If you’ve stumbled upon the name Cordyla in your gardening research, you’re not alone in scratching your head. This particular plant name presents quite the botanical puzzle, and here’s what we know (and don’t know) about it.

What We Know About Cordyla

The botanical name Cordyla exists in some plant databases, but detailed information about this species is remarkably scarce. What we can tell you is that it’s classified as a dicot, which means it belongs to the group of flowering plants that typically have two seed leaves when they first sprout.

Unfortunately, beyond this basic classification, reliable information about Cordyla’s characteristics, native range, and growing requirements is virtually non-existent in standard horticultural and botanical resources.

The Challenge of Obscure Plant Names

Sometimes in the plant world, you’ll encounter names that seem to lead nowhere. This could happen for several reasons:

  • The name might be outdated or no longer in use
  • It could be a very localized or rare species with limited documentation
  • There might be confusion with similar-sounding plant names
  • The plant might be known primarily in specialized scientific circles

What This Means for Gardeners

If you’re looking to add Cordyla to your garden, we’d recommend taking a step back and double-checking your source. You might want to:

  • Verify the spelling and see if you meant a similar plant name
  • Check if there’s additional information like a species name (since Cordyla appears to be just a genus)
  • Consult with local native plant societies or botanical experts
  • Consider well-documented native alternatives for your region

Finding Reliable Plant Information

When researching plants for your garden, especially native species, stick to reputable sources like:

  • Your local cooperative extension office
  • Native plant societies
  • Established botanical databases
  • Certified nurseries specializing in native plants

The Bottom Line

While Cordyla remains a botanical mystery, don’t let this discourage your native gardening journey. There are thousands of well-documented native plants that can bring beauty, wildlife habitat, and ecological benefits to your landscape. When in doubt, reach out to local experts who can help you identify the perfect native plants for your specific location and garden goals.

Sometimes the most rewarding gardening adventures come from the plants we can actually learn about and grow successfully!

Cordyla

Classification

Group

Dicot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass

Rosidae

Order

Fabales

Family

Fabaceae Lindl. - Pea family

Genus

Cordyla Lour. - cordyla

Species

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA