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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