Brush-making plant (5)
I believe the answer is:
shrub
'plant' is the definition.
(shrub is a kind of plant)
'brush-making' is the wordplay.
'making' is an anagram indicator.
'brush' with letters rearranged gives 'SHRUB'.
(Other definitions for shrub that I've seen before include "Drink of rum, fruit juice and spices" , "Woody plant, bush" , "Brush? (anagr.)" , "Woody plant smaller than a tree" , "Perhaps Heather" .)