Looking for an easy way to grow your own natural caffeine source? If you need an extra spring in your step with your morning tea, yerba maté is your friend. Native to South America, this beautiful understory evergreen tree is part of the holly family, with delicate white flowers and red berries. It grows well indoors in containers, where it can stay smaller in size. Or, plant it in your garden, where songbirds will delight in eating its red berries. Beloved for its use in cold and hot caffeinated drinks, it has health benefits as a coffee alternative. Studies have shown it has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective qualities. It is an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamins such as manganese.
Yerba maté enjoys global popularity as a beverage of choice—it is even the national drink of Uruguay and Argentina!
Growth Form: Tree that grows 10-20 ft high
Light: Sun to part shade
Water: Keep moist when young
Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic
Hardiness: USDA zones 9-11, Sunset zones 16-24
Type: Dioecious perennial