Michizane was very fond of ume and composed the waka (a traditional Japanese poem of thirty-one syllables) to the ume tree in his garden, 'Kochi fukaba Nioi okoseyo ume no hana aruji nasitote haruna wasureso (recently haruwo wasuruna)' (Whenever the east wind blows, my dear plum blossoms remember spring, even if your master won't be here), following his demotion and exile to Dazaifu.
道真は梅をこよなく愛し、大宰府左遷の際、庭の梅に「東風（こち）吹かば　匂い起こせよ　梅の花　主なしとて　春な忘れそ（現在は「春を忘るな」とされることもある）」と和歌を詠みました。