Water Hyacinth Baskets

A hyacinth basket is made from the natural aquatic plant - water hyacinth. Water hyacinth was considered a nuisance to waterways so it is now harvested, and dried out as a sustainable material to create beautiful woven homeware such as the hyacinth baskets we offer.

Hyacinth baskets can be painted if you wish to adapt the basket to fit in with a specific colour scheme, but they must be prepared properly so the colour lasts. Wanting a more colourful basket? At Northern Willow, we offer colourful basketware to suit your colour scheme such as our red paper rope tray.

We recommend regularly cleaning your water hyacinth baskets using either a dry cloth to dust. For more accurate cleaning, we recommend that you use a hoover to get into those hard-to-reach woven areas. Every so often you can use a damp cloth with simple water and natural soap to give it a freshen-up, however, make sure to thoroughly dry out your basket to prevent mould from developing. 

For more tips about basket maintenance, take a look at our article, ‘How To Clean Your Wicker Basket & Top Tips For Making Them Last’.

Despite being made from a natural aquatic plant, water hyacinth baskets are not waterproof. Subsequently, we recommend that you use your water hyacinth baskets indoors only, to prevent them from getting wet. If left wet or damp, the baskets can grow mildew or mould.

No. In short, water hyacinth baskets are made from non-toxic, biodegradable materials, making them a safe and stylish addition to your household.

Water hyacinth is a highly sustainable material. This fast-growing aquatic plant can quickly become a nuisance in waterways due to its rapid regeneration. By repurposing water hyacinths into sophisticated basketware, we help clear waterways and reduce waste.