If you have ever browsed our baskets and found yourself weighing up a seagrass one against a water hyacinth one, you are not alone. The two look similar at a glance; both are natural, sustainable and handwoven, and the names are often used loosely, so it is easy to assume they are the same thing. They are not. The differences are modest but real, and knowing them makes it much easier to pick the right basket for the right spot.
Here is a clear, side-by-side guide to what each material is, how they compare, and which one suits which job around the home.
What is seagrass?
Seagrass is exactly what it sounds like: a grass, grown in coastal paddy fields that are flooded with seawater. Once harvested, the long blades are dried and then twisted into a smooth, ropey cord, which is what gets woven into baskets.
That twisting gives seagrass its signature look and feel. It has a slightly glossy, almost polished finish, a naturally greenish tone when new that mellows to a soft honey-gold over time, and a smooth surface that is pleasant to handle. It is also tough. Seagrass is hard-wearing and holds a little natural resistance to moisture, which is why it stands up so well to daily use in busier corners of the home.
What is water hyacinth?
Water hyacinth is a fast-growing aquatic plant that floats on rivers and lakes. Its long stalks are harvested, dried, and then either twisted into a cord or woven flat in a wider, flatter braid.
The result is softer and more matte than seagrass, with a warmer, more golden-brown colour and a chunkier, more textural weave. Where seagrass reads as smooth and neat, water hyacinth feels more relaxed and rustic, with plenty of natural character in the weave. Our popular Milton range is woven from water hyacinth in a detailed fishbone pattern, which shows off that warmth and texture nicely.
A quick word on names
One thing that trips people up: baskets made from these grasses are often described loosely as "rattan" or simply "wicker". Wicker is really a weaving technique rather than a material, and true rattan is a different plant altogether (a climbing palm). So a basket labelled with the word rattan may in fact be woven from water hyacinth or seagrass. It is worth reading the description rather than going by the name alone, and if you are ever unsure about one of ours, the material is listed on every product page.
Seagrass vs Water Hyacinth: Head to head
Set the two side by side, and the contrasts are easy to see. Seagrass is smoother, slightly glossy, cooler and greener in tone when new, and a touch more water-resistant. Water hyacinth is softer to the touch, more matte, warmer and more golden in colour, with a chunkier weave and a more rustic character. Both are lightweight, breathable, sustainable and beautifully hard-wearing, so in truth you will be happy with either. The choice really comes down to the look you want and the job you need it to do.
Choosing by room and job
Rather than picking a favourite, it helps to match the material to where the basket will live.
For laundry and bathrooms, seagrass has a slight edge thanks to its natural resilience and smoother finish. Our Seagrass Rattan Laundry Basket comes with a hinged lid and a removable, washable cotton liner, making it a smart, good-looking choice for a high-use room. Just remember that no natural fibre likes to sit damp, so a well-ventilated spot is still best.
For living rooms and open shelving, where you want warmth and texture on display, water hyacinth comes into its own. A Milton Set of 3 storage baskets brings that golden, rustic character to a shelf or sideboard and tidies away everything from remotes to craft bits. If you prefer the cleaner, more coastal look, a Set of 3 Seagrass storage baskets does the same job with a crisper finish.
For busy, high-traffic spots like hallways, cloakrooms and under-stairs storage, seagrass again suits, since its smooth, sturdy weave shrugs off knocks and scuffs. A single Extra Large Seagrass Storage Basket is a workhorse for shoes, bags or spare shopping bags by the door.
And when it comes to styling, think about the room's mood. Seagrass leans coastal, calm and contemporary, while water hyacinth leans warm, rustic and bohemian. Both sit happily alongside natural woods and neutral tones, so you can mix the two across a home without any clash.
What they have in common
For all their differences, seagrass and water hyacinth share the qualities that make natural baskets such a joy to own. Both are handwoven from renewable, ethically sourced plants, both are lightweight yet strong, both are breathable, which helps whatever you store inside stay fresh, and both are a genuinely plastic-free alternative you will be glad to have on show.
They also ask for the same simple care. Keep them out of prolonged damp, give them an occasional dust or gentle vacuum to lift dirt from the weave, and dry them thoroughly if they ever get wet. Our wicker and rattan maintenance guide has the full detail.
Whichever way you lean, you can browse the full seagrass collection and the wider storage basket range to find the piece that fits your space, your style and the job at hand.
