Mint Creeping Charlie (Micromeria Brownei): Complete Aquarium Care Guide

Mint Creeping Charlie (Micromeria brownei) is one of the most underrated aquarium plants in the hobby. With its compact, rounded leaves, pleasant minty aroma during maintenance, and forgiving care requirements, it's an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced aquascapers looking to add unique texture to their planted tanks.

What Is Mint Creeping Charlie?

Despite its common name suggesting a connection to the terrestrial Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea), Mint Creeping Charlie is actually Micromeria brownei — a semi-aquatic plant native to the southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It naturally grows along stream banks and marshy areas, making it well-adapted to both submerged and emersed growth in aquariums.

What makes this plant special is its distinctive minty scent — when you trim or handle the stems during water changes, you'll notice a fresh, herbal fragrance that no other aquarium plant offers. Combined with its attractive appearance and easy care, it's no wonder Mint Creeping Charlie has become increasingly popular among planted tank enthusiasts.

Mint Creeping Charlie Care Requirements

Lighting

Mint Creeping Charlie thrives under moderate lighting (50-100 PAR at substrate level). It will grow under low light, but stems may become leggy and stretch toward the surface. Under higher light, growth stays compact with shorter internodal spacing and denser leaf production.

CO2

CO2 injection is not required but will significantly boost growth rate and overall plant health. Without CO2, Mint Creeping Charlie still grows well — just more slowly. This makes it an excellent choice for low-tech planted tanks.

Substrate & Nutrients

Plant Mint Creeping Charlie in a nutrient-rich substrate like aqua soil or add root tabs to inert substrates like gravel or sand. The plant is a moderate root feeder and benefits from both root and water column fertilization. A basic all-in-one liquid fertilizer applied weekly is sufficient for healthy growth.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 64–82°F (18–28°C)
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard (2–15 dGH)

Growth Rate & Size

Mint Creeping Charlie is a moderate grower, reaching 4–12 inches (10–30 cm) tall depending on lighting and CO2. Individual stems stay relatively narrow (about 1–2 inches wide), making it easy to fit into midground and background plantings without overcrowding.

How to Plant Mint Creeping Charlie

Mint Creeping Charlie is a stem plant, so planting is straightforward:

1. Remove any foam, rubber bands, or packaging material from the stems
2. Separate individual stems — they root better when not bunched too tightly
3. Trim the bottom 1–2 inches of each stem at a 45° angle
4. Plant each stem 1–2 inches deep in the substrate, spacing them about 1 inch apart
5. Plant in groups of 5+ stems for the best visual impact

Within 1–2 weeks, you should see new root growth anchoring the stems into the substrate. If stems float up before rooting, use plant weights to hold them in place temporarily.

Propagation

Propagating Mint Creeping Charlie is simple — just cut and replant. When stems reach the desired height, trim the top 3–4 inches and replant the cuttings directly into the substrate. The original stem will branch at the cut point, creating a bushier plant over time. Regular trimming every 2–3 weeks encourages dense, compact growth.

Common Issues

Leggy Growth

If stems are stretching with long gaps between leaves, the plant needs more light. Increase lighting intensity or duration, or move the plant closer to the light source.

Melting After Planting

Some initial leaf loss is normal as the plant adjusts to submerged conditions, especially if it was grown emersed. New submersed-form leaves will replace the melted ones within 1–2 weeks.

Yellowing Leaves

Yellow lower leaves typically indicate a nitrogen or iron deficiency. Increase liquid fertilizer dosing or add root tabs near the base of the plant.

Aquascaping With Mint Creeping Charlie

Mint Creeping Charlie works best as a midground to background plant. Its vertical growth habit and moderate size make it ideal for:

• Midground clusters in tanks 15+ gallons — plant in groups of 10+ stems for a lush, hedge-like effect
• Background filler in nano tanks (5–10 gallons) — its compact size works perfectly behind foreground carpets
• Transition zones between short foreground plants and taller background stems
• Dutch-style layouts — its distinctive leaf shape and texture contrast well with fine-leaved plants like Rotala or Java Moss

Tank Mate Compatibility

Mint Creeping Charlie is compatible with most community fish and invertebrates. It's particularly popular in:

• Shrimp tanks — the dense leaf structure provides excellent grazing surfaces and hiding spots for baby shrimp
• Betta tanks — the moderate height and soft leaves create comfortable resting spots
• Community tanks — compatible with tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and most peaceful species

Avoid pairing with large cichlids or goldfish that may uproot or eat the stems.

Where to Buy Mint Creeping Charlie

Canton Aquatics ships live Mint Creeping Charlie directly to your door with our proven packaging methods that keep plants healthy during transit. Every order includes a live arrival guarantee — browse our stem plant collection to find Mint Creeping Charlie and other beautiful aquarium plants.