foreground plant · medium

Pogostemon helferi: height, light, CO₂ & fish that eat it

Pogostemon helferi typically grows 1.2–3.9 in tall (3–10 cm) and grows in the foreground of a tank. It's rated for medium–high light, and injected CO₂ is helps, but sources disagree on whether it's needed. Temperature 59–82°F, pH 5–7.5.

Try it in the tank builder See which fish eat it

How tall it grows

Each bar is roughly the water depth a tank leaves above the substrate. The teal band is the plant's reported height range. ✓ fits, trim means it can reach the surface, ✕ means it typically outgrows the water.

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Quick facts

Grows to: 1.2–3.9 in (3–10 cm)
Height basis: Tropica 2-month avg (3-10+); Aquasabi care height 1-10
Where it goes: foreground, midground, attached
Light: medium–high light
Injected CO₂: helps
Growth: medium
Difficulty: medium
Temperature: 59–82°F
pH: 5–7.5
Hardness: 0–30 dGH
Feeds through: roots
Also sold as: Downoi

Planting tip: Handle gently because it bruises easily; plant it or tie it loosely to hardscape with nylon thread.

Fish and Pogostemon helferi

Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: plant-eating and digging named in each fish's sources, plus temperature and pH overlap.

Eats it (9)

May uproot it (6)

Different water (2)

Fish that leave it alone and share its water (93)

Pearl Gourami Angelfish German Blue Ram Bolivian Ram Kribensis Bronze Cory Panda Cory Pygmy Cory Julii Cory Bristlenose Pleco Otocinclus Kuhli Loach Hillstream Loach Siamese Algae Eater Cherry Shrimp Amano Shrimp Mystery Snail Glowlight Tetra Lemon Tetra Congo Tetra Black Neon Tetra Chili Rasbora Boesemani Rainbowfish Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish African Dwarf Frog Pea Puffer Ghost Shrimp Iridescent Shark Bala Shark Red-Tail Shark Rainbow Shark Chinese Algae Eater Neon Tetra Cardinal Tetra Black Skirt Tetra Serpae Tetra Rummy-nose Tetra Ember Tetra Harlequin Rasbora Zebra Danio Celestial Pearl Danio White Cloud Mountain Minnow Cherry Barb Tiger Barb Guppy Endler's Livebearer Molly Platy Swordtail Betta Dwarf Gourami Honey Gourami Head-and-tail-light Tetra Bleeding Heart Tetra Diamond Tetra Silver Tip Tetra Pristella Tetra Penguin Tetra Silver Hatchetfish Marbled Hatchetfish Lambchop Rasbora Pearl Danio Giant Danio Scissortail Rasbora Gold Barb Rosy Barb Odessa Barb Denison Barb Variatus Platy Three-spot Gourami Moonlight Gourami Sparkling Gourami Paradise Fish Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Firemouth Cichlid Discus Blood Parrot Cichlid Peppered Cory Sterbai Cory Clown Pleco Pictus Catfish Glass Catfish Upside-down Catfish Weather Loach Forktail Blue-eye Clown Killifish Bumblebee Goby Crystal Red Shrimp Bamboo Shrimp Ramshorn Snail Malaysian Trumpet Snail Assassin Snail Japanese Trapdoor Snail

Common questions

How tall does Pogostemon helferi grow?

Growers report about 1.2–3.9 in (3–10 cm). Basis: Tropica 2-month avg (3-10+); Aquasabi care height 1-10.

How much light does Pogostemon helferi need?

It's rated for medium–high light. Growers often disagree on light, so this is the full range across our sources.

Does Pogostemon helferi need CO₂?

It isn't strictly required, but sources disagree and some recommend injected CO₂ for best growth.

Which fish eat Pogostemon helferi?

In our database, Convict Cichlid, Common Pleco, Common / Comet Goldfish, Clown Loach, Tinfoil Barb, Buenos Aires Tetra, Kissing Gourami, Yoyo Loach, Fancy Goldfish are flagged as eating live plants. Tough-leaved anubias usually hold up better.

Gear for Pogostemon helferi

PlantLive Pogostemon helferi. Compare sellers and pot sizes.Find on Amazon →LightA planted-tank LED. Pogostemon helferi needs at least medium light.Find on Amazon →Root tabsIt feeds through its roots. Tabs put fertilizer in the substrate.Find on Amazon →FertilizerA liquid fertilizer for plants that feed from the water.Find on Amazon →

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Sources

Values come from these pages, in our own words. Where growers disagree, we show the full range. Last reviewed 2026-10-17.

tropica.com /en/plants/plantdetails/Pogostemonhelferi(053H)/4499
aquasabi.com /Pogostemon-helferi
flowgrow.de /db/aquaticplants/pogostemon-helferi