Condea verticillata, commonly known as John Charles, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is found in Mexico, Florida, Central America, the Caribbean, and northwestern South America. It has also been introduced to Hawaii.John Charles is used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions including coughs, colds, fever, tonsillitis, bronchitis, uterine fibroids, skin infections, and stomach ache. The leaf and stem of the plant contain the lignan podophyllotoxin.
John Charles has good resistance to diseases and is generally not prone to them. Regarding care, this plant is relatively low-maintenance. When grown outdoors it needs minimal watering, and larger plants generally do not require pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they have finished blooming. John Charlest is suitable for anyone with an outdoor space, such as a garden or deck, and does not require a lot of care experience.
How to keep Condea Verticillata.
Light
John Charles comes from open habitats, like sunny meadows and forest edges, that provide abundant light. It thrives in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, adapting well to a variety of sunlight conditions.
Temperature
John Charles is fairly heat-tolerant and copes well with large temperature fluctuations. In hot conditions, care should be taken to water properly and give suitable shade to avoid sunburn. On the other hand, John Charles is relatively sensitive to cold; it can tolerate some chill, but very low temperatures may cause frost damage.
Fertilizer
Proper timing is important for fertilizing John Charles. Apply fertilizer in early spring and continue monthly up to early summer. The fertilizer encourages attractive blooms and supplies energy during both dormant periods and active growth.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Condea
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-11
- Mature Height
- 49 cm to 91 cm
- Mature Spread
- 30 cm to 61 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Size
- 0.51 cm to 1.02 cm
- Bloom Time
- Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Fall, Early winter
- Native Area
- Colombia, Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica
Other names.
