Sweetgrass Baskets: A Southern Tradition

If you’ve been to the Charleston City Market, you may have noticed the intricate woven baskets being sold by local artisans. These tightly woven baskets are commonly referred to as sweet grass baskets and originate from West Africa when slaves were brought over to the United States in the 17th century. In fact, the sweetgrass basket is almost identical to the baskets found in Sierra Leone called shukublay baskets. For a large number of West African tribes, weaving these baskets was an important “right of passage.”

Before the Civil War, primarily older family members were in charge of making the baskets. The younger men were responsible for weaving baskets for gathering crops and the women would weave baskets for household items such as bread and fruit.

The smaller baskets were always made with Muhlenbergia fillips because the sweet smell was pleasant, thus creating the nickname, “sweetgrass baskets.” Today, the whole family is involved in the making and selling of sweetgrass baskets and children often make roses out of the grasses called “Palmetto Roses.”

Charleston is one of the few remaining cities in the country where this type of basketweaving is still widely practiced today and locals have made great efforts to preserve the tradition. In the 1930’s there was a resurgence in sweetgrass basket making and stands starting popping up on Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant, a major thoroughfare connecting Charleston to the northern part of the state.

Due to urbanization, the stands are starting to slowly disappear but a few remain today and a large number of stands still exist in the Charleston Market. Today, the biggest threat to basketmaking is access to needed materials. With commercial developments buying large sections of waterfront property, the ability to collect the marsh grass is becoming more and more limited.

The best way to support this local tradition is to buy a basket directly from the vendor at the City Market in downtown Charleston or in a local gift shop. Sweetgrass baskets are easy to care for and are water resistant due to its hardy upbringing in the salt winds and wetlands. Buying a sweetgrass basket is a wonderful way to take home a piece of Charleston and support a local tradition at the same time!