Be informed about the plant (7)
I believe the answer is:
heather
'plant' is the definition.
(heather is a plant)
'be informed about the' is the wordplay.
'be informed' becomes 'hear' (I've seen this in another clue).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'hear' placed around 'the' is 'HEATHER'.
(Other definitions for heather that I've seen before include "Low shrub; mixed-colour (yarn)" , "Erica!" , "Calluna vulgaris" , "Small purple evergreen plant growing on hills" , "grows wild" .)