Heather regularly spent years in Chad (5)

I believe the answer is:

erica

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'heather' is the definition.
(the plant genus Erica includes heather plants)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for erica that I've seen before include "I care about Heather, oddly" , "Heath genus; girl's name" , "found on the moors" , "Heather's Latin name?" , "hardy shrub" .)

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