Any plants can be used for this wonderful creative technique, although some will produce brighter or more vibrant colors than others. Certain plants also have historical or cultural significance in Japanese textile traditions. For example, the traditional kimono fabric known as shibori is dyed with indigo, while the red used in lacquerware comes from the sap of the urushi tree. When choosing plants for ha pa zome, it is therefore advisable to pick ones that you recognize and know to be safe. This is especially important if you are working with children, as some plants can be poisonous if ingested.