YERBA MATE --Ilex paraguariensis--

This is in the same family as our native Ilex (Yaupon). Our mothers originally came from Argentina and have fruited and flowered in pots in our greenhouse. These plants are cuttings from seedgrown mothers that themselves were second generation plants that lived in Texas their whole lives - tldr: several generations of successful Texas growing! The traditional brew, Maté or Chimarrão, is made from the dried and roasted leaves. Highly caffeinated, it's enjoyed very hot, and sipped out of a decorated gourd. Very cold-tolerant, the nursery's stock plant survived 15° in the ground with no damage. Not drought-tolerant, needs consistent though not heavy watering. Can get up to 50' in ideal conditions, though tolerates pruning to size and is suitable for container.