TankBud

Pogostemon Dassen

Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen'

Also known as Pogostemon sp. 'Dassen', Pogostemon stellata 'Dassen', Eusteralis stellata 'Dassen'

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Pogostemon Dassen (Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
17.7 in
45 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
5.0–7.0
Hardness
1–8 dGH
Spread
3.1 in (8 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Lamiaceae
Origin
Southeast Asia (selected cultivar)

Overview

A demanding background stem that needs bright light (around 100+ PAR), stable strong CO2, soft water and full macro and micro dosing to show its orange, pink and red tones and stay compact. It is finicky and prone to shedding lower leaves and melting if parameters swing, so it suits established high-tech tanks and experienced hands, not beginners. Trim and replant the tops to build a full bushy stand.

In the wild

A narrow-leaved selection of Pogostemon stellatus, a marsh and wetland plant from tropical Southeast Asia found in seasonally flooded ground across Thailand, Malaysia and neighbouring countries. The parent species grows emersed on damp soil for much of the year and only goes underwater when the wet season floods its habitat. 'Dassen' is a hobby cultivar prized for finer, more delicate foliage than the standard form.

Good to know

Pogostemon sits in Lamiaceae, the mint family, and a close relative is the source of patchouli oil. The narrow-leaved aquatic Pogostemon were formerly placed in the genus Eusteralis, so older references list this plant as Eusteralis stellata. Leaves emerge in whorled pairs along the stem, a stellate arrangement that gives the species its name.

Did you know

The whole narrow-leaved Pogostemon group belongs to the mint family, so a plant sold as a fussy red aquascaping stem is a botanical cousin of the patchouli used in perfumes.

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