The Story of Hazansho’s Partner, Maidenhair Fern

July 2023

What you can faintly see at the base of the Japanese pepper tree is Adiantum — also known as maidenhair fern.

When I first noticed this plant among the potted trees I had inherited, I assumed it was just a weed growing in the Japanese pepper’s pot. After looking it up, however, I discovered it was a proper fern. That’s when a thought occurred to me:

Perhaps my grandfather had found a wild Japanese pepper growing somewhere in the mountains, and dug it up along with the maidenhair fern growing at its base — bringing them both home together.

Since this little stowaway deserved a chance to thrive, I spread water moss bought from a 100-yen shop around the base of the pepper tree to keep it from drying out.

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August 2024

This year, I carefully removed the maidenhair fern from the base of the Japanese pepper tree, roots and all, and transplanted it into a separate pot.

I had a feeling it would take hold — and sure enough, it grew just like this. The pot is shallow, yet the plant is thriving remarkably well. It seems maidenhair fern stays healthy as long as it never runs short of water.

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April 2025

The Japanese pepper tree has been shooting up rapidly, so I rewired it into shape.

If the trunk were sturdier, I would have let it grow upward freely — but it’s far too slender for that, so since last year I’ve been using wire training to guide its growth sideways. Meanwhile, at its base, the remaining maidenhair fern that I had attempted to transplant last year has come back to life once more.

The maidenhair fern is a remarkable plant. Even if its leaves wither completely, as long as the roots survive, it will revive with nothing more than regular watering as the temperature rises.

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And the story of this maidenhair fern and Japanese pepper duo — to be continued.

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