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Glite Dictionary
low-growing

low-growing

1 3.4
Plants that grow close to the ground and are short
  • adjective
translation icon : bajo
  • Low-bush blueberry and black huckleberry are two low-growing, wiry shrubs that appear nearly identical.
  • low-growing shrubs
  • low-growing plants

And they are mostly a lower growing type of shrub that produce very fine, glossy green looking leaves.

Examples

  • "But these plants are usually low-growing, scrawny weeds and take in the metals too slowly to be practical," Angle says.

    Academic text (1995)

  • A low-growing bush snagged Constance's skirt.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Most likely, low-growing perennials would be planted.

    Blog text (27)

  • Beneath it all are the low-growing cacao trees; see illustration on opposite page.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The new evidence suggests that Apatosaurus and Diplodocus were probably best suited for feeding on low-growing plants.

    Academic text (2007)

  • His mother, with his sister in tow, vanished behind a clump of low-growing bushes while motioning to him to follow.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Partridge Falls trail should be a moose magnet, says Dahl, with its many low-growing trees that moose love to nibble.

    Academic text (2009)

  • The garden is filled with low-growing plants that are perfect for creating a beautiful ground cover.

  • In the rock garden, we planted several low-growing succulents that thrive in sunny conditions.

  • Butterflies love to rest on the low-growing flowers that bloom near the path.

Synonyms

ground-hugging
vslow-growing
1 6.0

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

is low to the ground but not necessarily extremely close
flat-growing
vslow-growing
  • Specialized
5.2

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

describes general low growth without stressing a spreading habit
acaulescent
vslow-growing
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant with no visible stem above the ground

means low overall growth but allows a visible stem above ground
short-stemmed
vslow-growing
  • Specialized
3.8

With a short stem, like some plants or flowers

describes low overall growth, not only reduced stem length
short-stalked
vslow-growing
  • Specialized
6.0

Having a short stem that keeps leaves or flowers close to the ground

refers to overall low growth rather than just a short stalk

Antonyms

upright
44 2.7

Standing straight up and not leaning

tall-growing
3.4

A plant that reaches a great height with long thin stems

How Tall

towering
4.0
tall
∞ 1.0
short
∞ 1.0
low-growing
1 3.4
prostrate
5 7.0

Surface Forms

low-growing positive

Morphology

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

The adjective is directly formed from the components 'low' + 'growing' (grow + -ing), so the meaning 'growing close to the ground' is transparently derived.

Etymology

Low-growing is made from low ('not high') and growing ('getting taller'), so it literally means plants that stay close to the ground. Think of a green carpet of plants that spread out rather than grow tall, and that image explains why low-growing describes short, spreading plants.