植 - PLANT a Tree Right, It'll Grow Straight

Readings & Meanings:

う (える)

う (わる)

しょく

to plant, to set up

Common Usage:

植物

植える

Examples:

植物を育てるのが趣味だ。

裏庭に大根を植えた。

Translations:

Raising plants is my hobby.

I planted daikon in my garden.

Radicals:

A familiar face: 木 is the particle on the left. On the right, we have 直, meaning straight. It reminds me of 置, the kanji for "to place". So, placing a tree straight in the ground is how you plant it.

References:

http://www.thejapanesepage.com/kanji/kanji/u.htm