Crossword Genius

At any time, place for putting a tree? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

evergreen

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'a tree?' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'at any time place' is the wordplay.
'at any time' becomes 'ever' ('ever' can be a synonym of 'at any time').
'place' becomes 'green' (green is a kind of place).
'ever'+'green'='EVERGREEN'

'for putting' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for evergreen that I've seen before include "Holly's one" , "Holly, for example" , "box, perhaps" , "Hardy, no doubt" , "kind of shrub" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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