The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word BUCKWHEAT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
B
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More clues leading to the result BUCKWHEAT
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "plant" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case plant = buckwheat.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 BUCKWHEAT mean?
BUCKWHEAT noun- An Asian plant, of the species Fagopyrum esculentum.
- The fruit of this plant used as a pseudocereal.
- Any of the wild buckwheats in the genus Eriogonum.