American Holly
While traveling through Tiverton and Little Compton, you'll notice that the American holly, Ilex opaca, is quite common. The reason for this is primarily temperature. Holly is a southern plant and is found in Rhode Island at the northernmost extent of its range. On the west side of Narragansett Bay, holly is generally not found north of Route 138 and usually grows within five miles of the coast. The close proximity of Narragansett Bay to all of Tiverton and Little Compton moderates the temperature here and creates perfect growing conditions for holly.
—This article first appeared in A Guide to Rhode Island's Natural Places, produced by Rhode Island Sea Grant.
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