I grew a strange creeper (6)

I believe the answer is:

earwig

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'creeper' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'i grew a strange' is the wordplay.
'strange' indicates an anagram.
'i'+'grew'+'a'='igrewa'
'igrewa' anagrammed gives 'EARWIG'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for earwig that I've seen before include "court" , "little insect" , "Pincered insect" , "A bug for Americans" , "One little creature" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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