Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen' is a stem plant with fine, needle-like leaves that radiate from the stem in tight starburst whorls. It is one of the more demanding plants in the catalog and one of the most rewarding — under strong light and steady nutrients the crowns shift from light green through pink and orange to deep purple, and a mature stand reads as a column of color rather than a patch of it.
That color is entirely conditional. In a low-light tank without CO₂ this plant stays green, stretches between nodes, and drops its lower leaves. It is worth being honest about that before you buy: 'Dassen' is a high-tech plant, and it looks like the photographs only in a high-tech tank.
Growing Conditions
- Light — High. This is not negotiable for color or for compact growth.
- CO₂ — Strongly recommended. Without it, expect green and leggy.
- Substrate — Nutrient-rich substrate or root tab supplementation.
- Water — pH 6.0–7.2, 72–82°F (22–28°C).
- Fertilization — Regular micronutrient and iron dosing. Color fades first when iron runs short.
- Trimming — Regular pruning promotes a bushy, compact form.
- Placement — Midground to background.
- Care Difficulty — Advanced.
Grower's Notes
Stability matters more than peak numbers with this one. 'Dassen' responds badly to swings — a missed dosing week or an inconsistent CO₂ schedule shows up as stunted crowns and deformed new growth, and it takes a while to grow back out of it once it starts.
Plant the stems with a little space between them rather than in a tight bundle. The starburst leaf arrangement needs room to open properly, and crowded stems shade each other into losing their lower foliage. Trim by topping and replanting the tops; the cut stems will branch and thicken the stand.
Vitro Culture® Advantages
- Free from snails, algae, pesticides, and pathogens
- Safe for shrimp tanks and other sensitive livestock
- Keeps in the sealed bag under light until you are ready to plant
- Rinse, gently divide, and insert into the substrate using tweezers
What You'll Receive
One 4-inch sealed Vitro Culture® bag containing multiple Pogostemon stellatus 'Dassen' plantlets, ready for acclimation and planting.
Disclaimer
Photos are for reference. Actual coloration depends on lighting, CO₂, and nutrient availability. Some melt may occur during the transition to submerged growth, which is normal.
Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Customers consistently praised this aquatic plant for being "healthy and beautiful" with excellent packaging. Shoppers reported strong growth in their aquariums, with stems straightening and plants thriving in various tank setups including betta tanks. The vitro culture format allows division into multiple pieces for planting.
- Always healthy and beautiful
- Excellent product well packaged doing well in my aquarium
- Healthy. Was able to split into several pieces to plant.
A
I have this nice plant in my 3gal planted betta tank. It had bent stems, now the stems are straight now. It's been growing nicely.
B
Always enjoy receiving plants from you guys they are always healthy and beautiful
M
Excellent product well packaged doing well in my aquarium
A
Really nice plants
T
Looked just like the picture. Healthy. Was able to split into several pieces to plant.
v
Is the vitamin liquid/gel the stuff that is on the bottom of the plants? If so can I leave the gel on the plant and put it into the substrate?
Yes, but rinse and remove it recommended because it will take a while to dissolve in your aquarium.
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