Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-hil.

An evergreen shrub. It grows up to 6-18 m high. The leaves are 8-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. It has somewhat leathery holly like leaves. They are alternate. They are pale green. The edges are coarsely toothed. The flowers are white. They are in a tuft with the flowers at the same level. The berries are small and yellow, red or black.

It is native to South America. It grows in cool, humid, tropical highlands. It is a subtropical plant. It often grows near streams. It is hardy. It needs reasonable drainage. It needs are even rainfall of at least 1,200 mm per year. It grows in areas with and average annual temperature of 21-22°C. The lowest temperature it can tolerate is-6°C. It requires a soil pH between 5.8-6.8. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

The leaves are dried and crushed then made into tea using boiling water. They contain caffeine. The berries are also used to make tea.

Plants are easily grown from seed. They should be sown immediately. But the time for germination can be long. Plants can also be grown by misted cuttings and by grafts. Plants are pollinated by insects.