Clue: River flower near to river from the east (7)
Answer: POTOMAC
Explanation: Definition: River

**PO** ("river") + **TO** + **<=CAM** ("flower" i.e. river, from the east i.e backwards]
 

 
*This clue simply doesn't work unless I am missing something. The only part that is "to the east" is the flower, so the "to the east" needs to be close to "flower" in the clue.