Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) - seeds

A packet of 10 seeds of Ilex paraguariensis. What we call a seed here is in fact a pyrene, the hard stone extracted from the tree's small red drupe.

This is one of the slowest and most temperamental germinations we offer, and it is better to know this before ordering. In the wild, the pyrene passes through the digestive tract of birds, which starts to break its dormancy. When sowing, you have to make up for this step with time.

Soak the seeds for 48 hours in lukewarm water, changing it regularly, then sow 1 cm deep in an acidic, light and constantly moist substrate, a mix of leaf mould and sand or perlite. Keep at 22 to 25 °C under a cover, in the light but out of direct sun. Allow two to six months, sometimes longer, with staggered germination: do not throw the tray away because nothing has come up after six weeks. That is the most common mistake.

In its native range, it reaches 8 to 15 m; in plantations it is kept at 3 to 5 m to make harvesting easier. Evergreen, leathery, dark green and glossy foliage with finely toothed edges. Small white flowers followed by red drupes on female plants, as the species is dioecious.

An established plant tolerates a few degrees below zero, but not our winters in open ground north of the Loire. Grow it in a large pot, outdoors in a bright, sheltered spot in summer, brought in frost-free in winter. It likes a humid atmosphere and dislikes lime.

The leaves, dried, roasted and ground, make yerba, which is steeped in a gourd and drunk through a bombilla. It is an everyday drink and a social ritual in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil, where the gourd is passed from hand to hand in an established order. Mate contains caffeine, like tea and coffee.

How long before leaves can be harvested?
Several years, and only a token amount from a potted plant. This product is for those who want to grow the tree for its own sake, not to produce their own yerba.

Why only 10 seeds?
Because availability is limited and the seeds are fragile: they quickly lose their ability to germinate after harvest. Sow them as soon as they arrive.

Is lime a problem?
Yes. Use an acidic substrate, and water with rainwater if your water is hard. The leaves quickly turn yellow in chalky ground.

Is there an easier alternative?
If it is the drink rather than the tree that interests you, take a look at our teas and infusions.

Also worth exploring: our full range of seeds from around the world.