flat-growing

5.2

A plant that lies low and spreads across the ground rather than standing upright

adjective

Specialized

: de crecimiento bajo

The flat-growing juniper is perfect for ground cover in gardens.

Examples

The flat-growing plant spreads beautifully across the garden.
I love how flat-growing succulents fill the space without taking up much height.
Many weeds have a flat-growing habit, making them hard to remove.
She prefers flat-growing plants along the edge of the pathway.
Many weeds have a flat-growing habit, making them hard to remove.
The flat-growing juniper is perfect for ground cover in gardens.
I love how flat-growing succulents fill the space without taking up much height.

Synonyms

low-growing

vsflat-growing

1 3.4

Plants that grow close to the ground and are short

spreads horizontally rather than rising upright

ground-hugging

vsflat-growing

1 6.0

A plant that grows very close to the ground and spreads out

spreads outward widely rather than rising upright

Antonyms

upright

44 2.7

Standing straight up and not leaning

How Low

flat-growing

Specialized

5.2

spreading

1 2.3

arching

4.1

upright

44 2.7

Surface Forms

flat-growing positive

Morphology

flat-growing = flat + growing (transparent) = flat + grow + ing

A straightforward compound of 'flat' + 'growing' (the participle 'growing' meaning 'growing along the ground'), so the sense is directly inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Flat-growing is made from the simple English parts flat 'level' and growing 'getting bigger', so picture a plant that spreads like a carpet across the ground. That's why it means a plant that stays low and spreads out instead of rising up.