No quick-growing plant? (7)

I believe the answer is:

creeper

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'plant?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both plants as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for creeper that I've seen before include "Say, Virginia" , "Climbing-plant" , "Variety of plant" , "low-lying plant" , "Climber" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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