| 100% | SEAHOLLY | 8 | Perennial with name like an ocean Christmas plant |
| 39% | FRANGIPANI | 10 | Plant with an almond-flavored custard named after it |
| 35% | SEA | 3 | With 13-Down, water dweller that looks like a plant but is actually an animal |
| 35% | XZIBIT | 6 | Rapper with an MTV show … whose name sounds like a word meaning "show" |
| 35% | VAST | 4 | Seemingly endless, like an ocean |
| 34% | LIMP | 4 | Like an underwatered plant |
| 34% | SPEARMINT | 9 | Herbaceous perennial plant with long spikes of lilac flowers that yields an oil used for flavouring |
| 34% | SUPERCELL | 9 | Severe thunderstorm, with name like a battery |
| 33% | URBAN | 5 | Country star Keith with an uncountry-like name |
| 33% | ADAMANT | 7 | English New Wave artist named like an insect |
| 33% | RELET | 5 | Like an apartment with new tenants |
| 33% | RURAL | 5 | Like an area with many farms |
| 33% | CORED | 5 | Like an Empire with no center? |
| 32% | FAIRYTALES | 10 | Books that depict an imaginary tale with a moral lesson like Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol": 2 wds. |
| 32% | DIVERSE | 7 | Like an ecosystem with many different species |
| 32% | RIPE | 4 | Like an avocado with a slight give |
| 32% | VEGAN | 5 | Like an eggless quiche with tempeh bacon |
| 32% | MEALY | 5 | Like an apple with a bad texture |
| 32% | ORAL | 4 | Like an exam with no written portion |
| 32% | SAG | 3 | Droop, like an unwatered plant |
| 32% | POINSETTIA | 10 | Plant associated with Christmas |
| 32% | HOLLY | 5 | Plant associated with Christmas |
| 31% | BETEL | 5 | Intoxicating Asian plant whose name sounds like an insect |
| 31% | WORMY | 5 | Like an apple with a hole in it, perhaps |
| 31% | EERIE | 5 | Like an abandoned house with music coming from inside |
| 31% | BANGLES | 7 | "Walk Like an Egyptian" band, with "the" |
| 31% | ORPINE | 6 | Perennial plant with toothed leaves |
| 31% | MISTLETOE | 9 | Plant associated with Christmas kisses |
| 31% | ORPINES | 7 | Perennial plants with toothed leaves |
| 31% | TARO | 4 | Plant with an edible root |