The green mochi, known as kusa mochi, originally got its color from gnaphalium affine (cottonweed), whose Japanese name means 'mother and child plant,' but since this pounding a mother and her child, it was changed to mugwort, which is effective in increasing blood circulation.
緑の草餅は初めは母子草（ハハコグサ)の草餅であったが『母子草をつく』と連想され代わりに増血効果があるヨモギを使った。