Ilex Species, Yerba Mate, Paraguay Tea, Paraguayan Tea

Ilexparaguariensis

Family
Aquifoliaceae (a-kwee-foh-lee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Ilex (EYE-leks)
Species
paraguariensis (par-uh-gwar-ee-EN-sis)
Synonym
Ilex curitibensis
Ilex domestica
Ilex mate
Ilex sorbilis
Ilex theaezans
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
20-30 ft. (6-9 m)
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
over 40 ft. (12 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Bloom Color
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Winter/Early Spring
Other Details
Category
Trees
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Gainesville, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sarasota, Florida

Houston, Texas

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

3
positives
2
neutrals
0
negative
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T
Houston, TX (Zone 9a) | April 2016 | positive

My wife is from Buenos Aires and loves drinking mate. So we just had to get the tree. It is about 3 years old now and has been kept in ...Read More

K
Alachua, FL (Zone 8b) | August 2009 | positive

We have two of these growing in the Herb Garden at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. One has been there for a number of years and is about 12 ...Read More

L
Seattle, WA (Zone 8b) | February 2004 | positive

I decided to grow yerba mate as a houseplant because I adore it as a tea. I knew I wouldn't use my plant for tea, but I like to grow pla...Read More

M
(Zone 11) | August 2003 | neutral

Many kinds of tea are made from this plant, depending on how the herb is prepared. In the southern Brazilian states they drink a strong o...Read More

C
| August 2003 | neutral

The leaves of this shrub are brewed to make a kind of tea called Maté in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It contains caffeine, tastes b...Read More

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