Why does Texas Native Plant Week matter?
Because what grows here—naturally, resiliently, and without asking much—tells a deeper story about our relationship to the land. At CatSpring Yaupon, we circled back during Texas Native Plant Week (third week of October) to honor one of the most overlooked native plants in North America: yaupon holly.
Yaupon isn’t just a native species. It’s the only plant native to this continent that naturally contains caffeine. And for us, it’s more than that—it’s a symbol of domestic sourcing, sustainable harvesting, and rooted tradition.
A Native Plant with Deep Texas Roots
Yaupon (pronounced yō-pon) has grown wild across the southeastern U.S. for centuries. Indigenous communities recognized its energizing and ceremonial properties long before it was written into botanical records. It thrives without irrigation, pesticides, or manipulation—a truly regenerative plant.
Today, we harvest it wild with ranchers and landowners around Cat Spring, Texas. That means no imported supply chains. No monoculture farming. No compromise.
When we talk about domestic sourcing, we’re talking about knowing the land, knowing the plant, and honoring the people and processes that make it all possible.
What We Celebrated During Texas Native Plant Week
All week long, we shared the beauty and benefits of yaupon. Here's what we highlighted:
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Yaupon is native, not cultivated – it grows where it belongs
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We harvest by hand in Texas – keeping our sourcing local
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Its history runs deep – used in ceremonial contexts for generations
Why Native Plants—and Native Tea—Matter More Than Ever
In a world of imported superfoods and outsourced ingredients, there’s something grounding about a plant that grows exactly where it’s meant to.
Native plants like yaupon:
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Require fewer resources
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Build healthier ecosystems
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Support biodiversity
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Connect us to local heritage
Choosing yaupon is more than choosing a caffeine source—it’s choosing to support domestic agriculture, regenerative practices, and long-term ecological health.
A Final Sip
Texas Native Plant Week reminded us of what we already knew deep down: when we care for what’s native, we care for what lasts.
With yaupon, we’re not just offering tea—we’re offering a taste of place. Sustainably sourced, naturally energizing, and proudly Texan tea that we would love to share with you.
