Ilex paraguariensis seeds grow into the yerba mat a large, evergreen tree native to the wet subtropical biome of southern Brazil (Paran, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul), north-eastern Argentina (Misiones, Corrientes) and Paraguay. Described by A.St.-Hil. (Auguste de Saint-Hilaire, 17791853, French botanist who studied the Brazilian flora). The epithet paraguariensis means ‘from Paraguay’. Culturally one of the most important plants in South American history: the dried, ground leaves are the source of mat (also yerba mat), the traditional caffeinated infusion that has been consumed by the Guaran people for millennia and is now the national drink of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay consumed daily by millions across South America and increasingly worldwide. CAUTION: berries TOXIC. Family Aquifoliaceae.

Partial shade to full sun; moist, humus-rich, acidic soils; subtropical conditions; requires humidity. BERRIES TOXIC.

• ‘Paraguariensis’ = from Paraguay; A.St.-Hil.; the yerba mat tree source of South America’s defining traditional beverage
• BERRIES TOXIC; national drink of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay; consumed daily by millions; Guaran cultural heritage
• S. Brazil, NE. Argentina, Paraguay wet subtropical biome; subtropical humid forest
• Genus Ilex: ~600 species; Worldwide; hollies; Family Aquifoliaceae; Order Aquifoliales
• Partial shade/full sun; moist acidic soils; subtropical humidity; BERRIES TOXIC; Family Aquifoliaceae

Ilex paraguariensis the yerba mat tree is one of the most culturally significant plants of the Americas: its leaves have been infused as the traditional caffeinated drink mat by the Guaran people for thousands of years, and this tradition has spread across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil to make mat the defining national drink of a vast region and one of the world’s most widely consumed herbal infusions.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.