Try tender exotic trees, but they won't grow here (4,6)
I believe the answer is:
gobi desert
'they won't grow here' is the definition.
The answer is a location as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.
'try tender exotic trees' is the wordplay.
'try' becomes 'go' (both can mean an attempt).
'tender' becomes 'bid' (synonyms).
'exotic' is an anagram indicator (an unusual form of the letters).
'trees' anagrammed gives 'esert'.
'go'+'bid'+'esert'='GOBI DESERT'
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gobi desert that I've seen before include "Mongolian wasteland" , "Arid Mongolian area" , "Asian wilderness" , "Be intelligible" , "dry expanse" .)