The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word IVIES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
I
V
I
E
S
More clues leading to the result IVIES
- Christmas leaves one with struggles
- Climbers from India struggle on peak in Switzerland
- More than one climber is having inner struggle
- One to contest tip from social climbers
- I strive to join the top in social climbers
- One struggles to find climbing plants
- Climbers compete in central Lake District
- Climbing plants compete in leading Indian show's first section
- Plants four Romans, that is, senators initially
- Class of climbers ignoring the advertising from the parties involved in a legal contract
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Christmas leaves" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case christmas leaves = ivies.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does IVIES mean?
IVIES noun- Any of several woody, climbing or trailing evergreen plants of the genus Hedera.
- Any similar plant of any genus.