Pogostemon stellatus 'Octopus'
The whorled, tentacle-like leaves give this stem plant its octopus nickname. Lime-green in moderate light, flushes lavender-pink at the tips under intense light and lean nitrate. A demanding background plant that rewards a high-tech setup with a spectacular fountain of leaves.
Pogostemon Stellatus 'Octopus' (Pogostemon stellatus 'Octopus') is a stem aquatic plant for the background of a planted tank. It reaches 30–50 cm under good conditions and grows at a fast rate. Light: high. CO₂: required. Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.0, and 2–10 dGH. Substrate: Aquasoil + iron-rich dosing. Propagate via top cuttings replanted into substrate.
Care at a glance
The whorled, tentacle-like leaves give this stem plant its octopus nickname. Lime-green in moderate light, flushes lavender-pink at the tips under intense light and lean nitrate. A demanding background plant that rewards a high-tech setup with a spectacular fountain of leaves.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether pogostemon stellatus 'octopus' fits in your tank.
Lamiaceae
Stem
Background
Aquasoil + iron-rich dosing
Top cuttings replanted into substrate
Selectively bred cultivar (Asian parentage)
Selectively bred cultivar (Asian parentage)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: required. Light requirement: high. Under stable injected CO₂ the plant grows at a fast rate.
Pogostemon Stellatus 'Octopus' (Pogostemon stellatus 'Octopus') needs high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: background. Substrate: Aquasoil + iron-rich dosing It typically reaches 30–50 cm.
Propagation method: Top cuttings replanted into substrate. Pogostemon Stellatus 'Octopus' is a stem plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.0, and 2–10 dGH. Flow tolerance: medium.
Difficulty: 3/5. Intermediate, stable parameters and a mature tank matter.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
