Of a plant or part of a plant: alive, growing. Cf. quickwood, n. Now rare.

That is a plant; living and growing as a plant. Also figurative. Cf. vegetative, adj. 1b. Obsolete.

Growing.

That grows and develops; living and growing as a plant; = vegetable, adj. 2a. Obsolete.

Originally: having a vegetative soul; (in later use also) characterized by life and growth, as plants.

Originally: characterized by life and growth; vegetative, vegetable. In later use: consisting of or characterized by vegetables or vegetation.

Exhibiting growth; (also) capable of living and growing.