Investing first, foolishly, in the plants (5)

I believe the answer is:

vines

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'plants' is the definition.
The answer is an example.

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for vines that I've seen before include "Climbing or trailing plants" , "Wine is ultimately the fruit of these" , "Grape plants" , "Plants that climb and twine" , "Grapes grow on them" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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