What Different Kind of Wicker are There?

Wicker is a general term that can encompass a few different materials. They all have different properties but they are all natural materials and can be used in many different ways. From building durable patio furniture to weaving baskets, wicker is a great group of materials.
Rattan

A completely natural material, rattan is a name for various types of palm that are fairly similar to bamboo. Very flexible and useful for many different purposes, this is the favored material by many weavers. For use as wicker, the inner core of the rattan is most often used but thicker pieces can be used as well. Larger rattan is known as cane and is most commonly used for creating a strong and flexible frame.
Paper wicker

Also known as paper fibre rush, this material is a rope like, standardized, twisted natural fiber that was used primarily in the early 1900s up to the 1930s. This was used to emulate the European wicker furniture. It was easy to produce, use and make consistent. This was used for everything from outdoor patio furniture to baskets and indoor furniture. Because of an embargo on imported rattan, manufacturers needed a replacement and paper wicker was the solution.
Reed wicker
One of the more fragile wicker materials, reed wicker is made from reeds. Reeds are a marshland plant with a paper like quality when dried. Because of its fragile nature, reed needs to be handled a bit more delicately than other forms of wicker.

All wicker furniture can be used outside as garden furniture but needs to be protected from the elements. It can be water proofed and sealed but this does not completely stop the rotting process since they are natural materials.