Gardner is hugged by admirer in plant (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

fava bean

'plant' is the definition.

'gardner is hugged by admirer' is the wordplay.
'gardner' becomes 'ava' (Ava Gardner).
'is' becomes 'be'.
'hugged by' indicates putting letters inside (I've seen this in other clues).
'admirer' becomes 'fan' (fan is a kind of admirer).
'ava'+'be'='avabe'
'avabe' inserted within 'fan' is 'FAVA BEAN'.

'in' is the link.

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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