Yerba Matá

Ilex paraguariensis

Aquifoliaceae · broadleaf evergreen tree · introduced

Last updated May 11, 2026

Quick Facts

Height

20-30 ft

Light

Full Sun to Part Shade

Hardiness

Zone Zones 8b–9a

Origin

includes parts of Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina

Phytophthora Root RotModerate

Growing Season Stress Expression

Sooty MoldModerate

Scale Insect Emergence and Honeydew Production

AphidModerate

Spring Colonization

Lecanium scaleModerate

Spring Feeding & Egg Production

+ 1 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Diseases: Regionally Documented (8)

Several factors Red Leaf Spotting Phytophthora leaf & twig blight Green algae Green Algae Many commercial Boron Deficiency Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Venturia spp. — multiple host-specific species: V Scab Fumago vagans Sooty Mold

Pests: Regionally Documented (10)

Parthenolecanium spp. Lecanium scale Pulvinaria floccifera Cottony camellia scale Coccus hesperidum Brown soft scale Argyrotaenia franciscana Orange tortrix Phytomyza ilicis Holly leafminer Rhopobota naevana Holly bud moth Aphidoidea Aphid Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Tetranychidae Spider mite Tortricidae Leafroller

Data Maturity

Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.