Clubs do something with American plant (6)
I believe the answer is:
cactus
'plant' is the definition.
(I know that cactus is a type of plant)
'clubs do something with american' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'do something' becomes 'act' (to act is to do something).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'american' becomes 'US' (abbreviation for United States).
'c'+'act'+'us'='CACTUS'
(Other definitions for cactus that I've seen before include "Prickly character" , "Drought-resistant plant" , "Eg, prickly pear" , "Spiney plant of arid regions" , "Prickly desert plant" .)