Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen'
Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen'
Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen' is one of the most spectacular color-producing stem plants available in the aquarium hobby — a challenging but visually extraordinary Southeast Asian/Australian Pogostemon that exhibits a stunning array of colors under optimal conditions. The leaves range through green, pink, orange, and red, with the most vivid expression on the undersides creating a constantly shifting color display as stems sway in the current. It is a showpiece plant for high-tech aquarists who want the pinnacle of stem plant color.
Care tip: Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen' grows best in high lighting with CO₂ recommended. Maintain temperatures of 72–82°F and pH 5.5–7.0. Regular liquid fertilization supports healthy growth and best coloration.
Growing to 12 to 20 inches, 'Dassen' is a background plant that requires consistently excellent high-tech conditions to develop and maintain its spectacular multi-color display. Regular trimming is essential — frequent pruning encourages fresh, brightly colored new growth and prevents the lower portions of older stems from becoming drab. Without consistent trimming, strong light, and CO₂, the color range collapses toward plain green.
As a challenging plant, 'Dassen' requires CO₂ recommended and high lighting — both are genuine requirements for the spectacular color display. The tight pH range of 5.5 to 7.0 reflects specific water chemistry preferences. Temperatures between 72 and 82°F provide comfortable conditions. Consistent fertilization and regular trimming are both essential management practices for maintaining the extraordinary color.
In the aquascape, Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen' creates an unrivaled multi-color background display of green, pink, orange, and red that is simply unavailable from any other commonly cultivated aquarium plant. The color range expressed under optimal conditions makes it a genuine showpiece for high-tech planted aquariums. A featured background position with excellent lighting allows the full color range to be most dramatically displayed.
Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen' is the benchmark multi-color stem plant for dedicated high-tech aquarists. Its extraordinary color range and challenging requirements make it one of the most ambitious and rewarding stem plants in the freshwater aquarium hobby.
Care & Specifications
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Placement | Background |
| Max Height | 12–20 inches |
| Light Level | High |
| Temperature | 72–82°F |
| pH | 5.5–7.0 |
| CO2 Needs | Recommended |
| Origin | Asia, Australia |
| Notes | Under optimal conditions this highly variable Southeast Asian/Australian Pogostemon stellatus exhibits a stunning array of colors including green, pink, orange, and red — especially vivid on the leaf undersides. Needs intense light and CO₂ for the spectacular multi-color display that makes it a showpiece centerpiece in stem plant layouts. |