North America Non-native Plant

Faradaya Powellii

Botanical name: Faradaya powellii

USDA symbol: FAPO

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

Faradaya powellii: The Mystery Plant That Has Gardeners Scratching Their Heads If you’ve stumbled across the name Faradaya powellii in your plant research adventures, you’re probably wondering what exactly this mysterious species is all about. Well, you’re not alone – this particular plant seems to be one of botany’s best-kept ...

Faradaya powellii: The Mystery Plant That Has Gardeners Scratching Their Heads

If you’ve stumbled across the name Faradaya powellii in your plant research adventures, you’re probably wondering what exactly this mysterious species is all about. Well, you’re not alone – this particular plant seems to be one of botany’s best-kept secrets, leaving even seasoned gardeners and plant enthusiasts with more questions than answers.

What We Know (Spoiler Alert: It’s Not Much)

Faradaya powellii belongs to the dicot group of plants, which means it’s a flowering plant with two seed leaves. Beyond that basic classification, reliable information about this species is surprisingly scarce in horticultural literature and gardening resources.

The lack of a widely recognized common name is often a red flag that we’re dealing with either a very specialized or rare plant, or possibly one that isn’t commonly cultivated in home gardens.

The Great Information Mystery

Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit frustrating): despite our best efforts to dig up details about Faradaya powellii, we’re coming up short on the usual plant profile information that gardeners rely on, including:

  • Native range and geographical distribution
  • Growth habits and mature size
  • Preferred growing conditions
  • USDA hardiness zones
  • Wildlife and pollinator benefits
  • Aesthetic characteristics

What This Means for Gardeners

If you’re considering adding Faradaya powellii to your garden, proceed with caution. The lack of readily available cultivation information suggests a few possibilities:

  • This may be a very rare or specialized species not commonly available in the nursery trade
  • It could be a plant that’s primarily of scientific or conservation interest rather than horticultural value
  • There might be confusion with the plant identification or naming

Our Honest Recommendation

Without reliable information about growing requirements, native status, or potential invasiveness, we can’t responsibly recommend planting Faradaya powellii. Instead, consider these alternatives:

  • If you’re interested in unique or rare plants, consult with local botanical gardens or native plant societies
  • Focus on well-documented native species that provide known benefits to local wildlife
  • Work with reputable nurseries that can provide detailed growing information and proper plant identification

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the most honest thing a gardening expert can say is I don’t know – and that’s exactly where we stand with Faradaya powellii. While the mystery might be intriguing, successful gardening relies on understanding your plants’ needs and characteristics.

If you’ve encountered this plant name in your research or have reliable information about its cultivation, we’d love to hear from you. Until then, there are plenty of well-documented, beautiful native plants waiting to transform your garden with confidence and success.

Faradaya Powellii

Classification

Group

Dicot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass

Asteridae

Order

Lamiales

Family

Verbenaceae J. St.-Hil. - Verbena family

Genus

Faradaya F. Muell.

Species

Faradaya powellii Seem. ex Powell

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