Pogostemon Stellatus

Pogostemon Stellatus “Octopus”

Pogostemon stellatus “Octopus” (often just called Octopus Plant) is a fast-growing, fine-textured stem plant loved for its long, narrow leaves that fan out in whorls and sway like tentacles in the current. It brings instant movement and “airy volume” to a planted aquarium, and it’s especially striking next to bold, broad-leaf plants like Swords and Anubias, where its needle-like foliage creates a clean, high-contrast look.

Pogostemon Stellatus “Octopus” Overview

In the aquarium, “Octopus” grows upright and can become a tall, flowing background stand—typically about 6–16 inches depending on conditions and trimming. As it establishes, it tends to branch more readily after trims, which is how you turn a few stems into a dense, bushy backdrop.

Aquarists appreciate Pogostemon “Octopus” for:

• Unique, flowing texture: Long, whorled leaves add motion and a soft “plume” effect in the background.
• Fast growth and tank utility: It can help absorb excess nutrients and quickly fill space in a new or evolving aquascape.
• Beginner-friendly adaptability: It can grow in lower-tech tanks, but looks best when light and nutrition are consistent.
• Great fish cover: Dense stems create refuge and “safe lanes” that small fish, shrimp, and fry actively use.

The result is a plant that’s both beautiful and practical—one of the easiest ways to make a tank look fuller and more alive.

For aquascaping, plant “Octopus” in a grouped stand behind hardscape to create depth: it looks fantastic rising behind rocks and driftwood (including statement pieces like Driftwood on Slate) where the fine foliage softens hard edges. In front of it, layer midground plants like Cryptocoryne for a natural transition, and use broad-leaf anchors like sword plants or Anubias to emphasize contrast between “bold structure” and “feathery movement.”

Caring for Pogostemon Stellatus

This plant is forgiving, but its best look comes from consistency. Most sources place it in moderate to high light, with brighter light helping it grow more compact and “hedge-like.” CO₂ is not required, but it can noticeably improve speed, density, and overall polish in brighter setups. 

Because it’s a stem plant that feeds heavily from the water column, a steady liquid fertilizer routine helps keep growth lush (especially in planted tanks where multiple fast growers compete). If you want it bushier, trimming is the trick: once stems near the surface, snip the tops with sharp aquascaping scissors—this encourages side shoots—and replant healthy cuttings to thicken the stand.

• Light: Moderate–Strong
• Temperature Range: 72–82°F
• Placement: Midground–Background
• CO₂: Not required (beneficial)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast

Once Pogostemon “Octopus” is in, it’s the kind of plant that stays easy as long as you keep a simple rhythm: plant several stems as a grouped stand, give it consistent light, and let it grow up toward the surface—then trim the tops regularly to force side-shoots and create that fuller, bushier “octopus wall” look. A steady dose of Thrive liquid fertilizer is an easy way to support dense, healthy growth (especially because this plant feeds heavily from the water column), and clean maintenance goes a long way: use sharp aquascaping scissors for quick top trims, and tweezers to replant cuttings neatly and remove any shaded lower leaves that aren’t thriving.

If you’re building a more natural layout, a few botanicals around the base and nearby hardscape can help the scape feel more “lived-in,” while Octopus provides the soft, flowing background your fish and fry will actually use for cover—so the tank looks fuller, calmer, and more established as it grows in. 

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• What You See Is What You Get: Photos are representative; live plants naturally vary in leaf length, fullness, and texture.
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To keep “Octopus” looking its best long-term, think of it as a simple routine: plant a grouped stand, keep nutrients steady with a quality liquid fertilizer, and do regular trims with sharp aquascaping tools to promote branching and maintain that lush, flowing background wall.