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yerba mate

Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.

Family: Aquifoliaceae · Genus: Ilex

Paraguay tea

Secondary II Medium No biomass production 🪓 Coppices after cutting
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tree native to highland Atlantic Forest and southern Brazilian grasslands, listed by IPOEMA among major Brazilian perennial crops in agroforestry consortia. Caffeine- and antioxidant-rich leaves — basis of chimarrão, tereré, and mate beverages. Grows naturally as understory beneath araucária. Medium stratum, requires partial shade; annual pruning boosts vigorous leaf regrowth.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary II
Ecological role
Late secondary
Primary stratum
Medium
Strata
Medium, Low
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Partial shade
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Low
Preferred soil texture
Clayey, Loamy
Hardiness zones
9–12
Frost tolerance
-6.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
4–15 m
Recommended spacing
3–4 m
Root system
Lateral
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
60–100 years
Time to first harvest
48 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Yerba mate takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium · ≈15 m Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Prefers deep, well-drained, slightly acid, organic-rich clay soils; shallow roots demand careful soil management. Propagated from seed (complex germination, up to 120 days) or 20–30 cm cuttings with at least three nodes; field-planted at 10–11 months. Wide spacing favours mechanization and light entry.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: October, November

Fruiting months: March, April, May, June

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of yerba mate?

The first harvest of yerba mate comes around 48 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for yerba mate?

The recommended spacing for yerba mate is 3–4 m.

How tall does yerba mate grow?

At maturity, yerba mate reaches 4–15 m tall.

When does yerba mate fruit?

Fruiting of yerba mate occurs in March, April, May, June.

When does yerba mate flower?

Flowering of yerba mate occurs in October, November.

What stage and stratum does yerba mate occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, yerba mate belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

Medicinal Aromatic 🌿 Biomass producer

Propagation

Seed, Cutting

Citations

  1. Wendling, A. (2014) — Curso de Capacitação em Jardins Agroflorestais, IPOEMA / Instituto de Permacultura , p. 31 (primary_stratum, biomes, functions)
  2. Embrapa Florestas (2014) — Cultivo da Erva-Mate (root_system, root_depth, soil_texture_preference, propagation, phenology, cultivation_notes)
  3. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil. (gbif_taxon_key, family, genus)

External references

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