Twenty-four species spread across Australia, New Zealand, and the western Pacific make up this genus, and together they cover an extraordinary range — from compact 3-foot houseplants to 40-foot canopy trees with woody trunks. The name traces back to the Greek kordyle, a club, after the swollen underground rhizomes that anchor the plant and store reserves through dry spells. That root architecture is central to understanding the genus: it tolerates drought once established, but cold, waterlogged soil is its enemy.

The strap-like leaves shift from plain green through creams, warm tans, and splashes of pink and purple depending on species and cultivar. In spring the flowers open — small, intensely fragrant, and generous to bees. In frost-prone climates, the options are a sheltered garden corner or a container brought in before the first hard freeze. In either situation, the plant earns its space through sheer presence.