From what we hear, this is why you seize a desert plant (5)
I believe the answer is:
yucca
'desert plant' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'from what we hear this is why you seize a' is the wordplay.
'from what we hear' shows a homophone (sound like).
'this is why' becomes 'why'.
'you' becomes 'u' (commonly used in online communication).
'seize' becomes 'cc' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'why' is a homophone of 'y'.
'y'+'u'+'cc'+'a'='YUCCA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for yucca that I've seen before include "North American evergreen plant with sword-shaped leaves" , "Evergreen plant with thick stout stems" , "Cassava" , "Tropical American liliaceous plant" , "Ornamental plant" .)