Vegetables
Clubmoss (decorative)
立桂 たちかずら tachikazura
Also known astachikazura, tatekazura, hikagenokazura
No peak season recorded
When it is at its best
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
In seasonAvailable
How to cook
As a lining
Laid on a plate or tray with the food arranged on top; the green sets the dish off.
Stood as decoration
Leaned against the vessel to give height, bringing movement to the arrangement.
Dividing a platter
Placed between dishes on a large platter to separate them.
How to choose
Deep green with fine leaves set densely, and firm right to the tips.
Storage
Sensitive to drying. Wrap in damp paper, seal and refrigerate. Not edible; do not eat it.
Main areas
Good to know
Its formal name is hikage-no-kazura, a clubmoss whose fine leaves resemble cedar. In Japanese cooking it serves as a lining or decoration. It is not food, but is there to give colour and depth to a dish. It was once used in Shinto ritual decoration.
