Plant · P-931

Yerba Mate

Ilex paraguariensis

Yerba mate is an evergreen holly cultivated for its caffeine-rich leaves; young growth is dried and ground into the tea known as mate throughout South America. Native to humid subtropical highlands near streams and river valleys up to 1500 m elevation it wants warm humid air with 1200-2000 mm annual rainfall and prefers full sun to light shade. Grows best where daytime temperatures run 17-26 C and mature wood is reported killed near -6 C; commercial growers report container specimens damaged nearer -1 C so treat the colder figure as optimistic. Wants rich well-drained soil in the pH 5.8-8 range with 6.5-7 optimal. Typically 4-8 m tall in cultivation though wild trees reach 15 m. Slow from seed - fresh seed can take two to three years to germinate; cuttings and grafting are faster. Dioecious - fruiting requires both a male and a female plant.