Encyclia cordigera is found in lowland, rather dry, scrubby forests of southern Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and into Colombia and Venezuela. In Central America it is more common on the Pacific coast. These epiphytic plants have fairly large, erect, pseudobulbs that vary in size from 1 to 4 inches tall. They are clustered on a short connecting rhizome and are of a typical conical to pear-shape. Most growths have two leaves that arise from the top of the pseudobulb. The flower spikes emerge from between the leaves and may be as long as 30 inches.

The two to three inch blossoms are long lasting and all open about the same time. The petals and sepals are green heavily overlaid with brown or purplish brown. The lip may be white or magenta. Plants from Costa Rica and northern South America usually have white lips with a small magenta spot or streak in the center of the mid-lobe. Plants from Panama and Mexico normally have lips that are entirely flushed with magenta. The variety ‘rosea’ from Panama is considered one of the better ones.

Regardless of flower color the chocolate fragrance is most intense in bright light. Even the shadow of a passing cloud will reduce the fragrance.