Ring back about newspaper plant (5)
I believe the answer is:
lilac
'ring back about newspaper plant' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'ring back about newspaper plant' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'call' ('call' can be a synonym of 'ring').
'back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'newspaper plant' becomes 'i' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'call' backwards is 'llac'.
'llac' going around 'i' is 'LILAC'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lilac that I've seen before include "Tree - pinkish-purple colour" , "Shrub with fragrant pink, purple or white flowers" , "Drop by about one, turning" , "Flower celebrated by Schubert" , "Shade" .)