Mate is a sub-tropical plant, native to South America. It grows into a small tree, but can be kept in pots by pruning and feeding from time to time.
The leaves of the plant can be steeped in hot water to make a beverage known as mate. Brewed cold, it is used to make tereré. Both the plant and the beverage contain caffeine.
It is half-hardy but when gets older can tolerate occasional frost too.
It comes in 1 l pot,approximately 60 cm tall, ike on the last photo, including pot.