It grows in an easterly direction (5)

I believe the answer is:

aster

'it grows' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'in an easterly direction' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'ASTER' is hidden within 'easterly direction'.

(Other definitions for aster that I've seen before include "bloomer" , "Michaelmas daisy genus" , "eg Michaelmas daisy" , "Tears (anag) - plant" , "It grows" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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