Mission and Values
Herbal medicine is people’s medicine–that’s why we put the community first at Wild Rose College.
Our online herbal courses and diploma programs have some of the most comprehensive and in-depth written and video material available today, with an accessible tuition model. Our students come from all genders, races, ages, and skill levels, from all across the globe.
Online learning is ideal for juggling careers, family life, and hobbies along with your studies. Our at-your-own pace rhythm accommodates diverse learners and various learning styles.
Want to study off-line or off-grid? We also offer printed manuals and textbooks so you can take your learning with you wherever you go.

We Love To Explore Canada's Boreal Forests.
Wild Rose Herbal College was founded on Treaty 7 territory in Southern Alberta in Calgary, Canada, in 1975 by Terry Willard, Clinical Herbalist.

Our Story
The College has grown from a popular brick-and-mortar school with locations in Calgary and Vancouver, to an online herbal learning destination connecting the herbal community from the local to the global.
Today, Wild Rose Herbal College is run by a team of passionate and talented herbalists, including Dr. Terry Willard Ph.D. and his son, Clinical Herbalist Yarrow Willard.
Wild Rose College believes we should all have the opportunity to connect with the plant medicine of our cultural lineage. We respect and honour the histories, languages, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada from coast to coast who enrich our community.
We endeavour to promote and provide a diverse, safe and inclusive learning environment for all while advocating for respect, understanding and stewardship for plants on behalf of all people.
Wild Rose College respectfully acknowledges the ancestral and unceded territory of all Indigenous Peoples of the lands that we connect from today.
While we meet via a virtual platform, we recognize the importance of the lands that we each call home. We do this to affirm our commitment and responsibility to improving relationships between nations within the college and in the wider herbal community.
The Wild Rose Story
Follow the Wild Rose Story across the years–and across the provinces
1973-1976 Wild Rose Begins
In 1973, Terry Willard, along with other educators and Indigenous knowledge keepers, started offering herb walks and wilderness survival courses under the name "Wild Rose" in Treaty 7 territory—aka: the Foothills of Southern Alberta.
In 1975, growing from the education offered on the land, Terry began renting spaces in Calgary where they taught workshops in Herbology and Iridology.
In 1976, Terry created the Wild Rose herbal product line. (Terry’s famous D-tox kit was created later in 1987.)
Wild Rose Workshops - 1975
Terry Willard starts teaching herbal workshops and herb walks in 1975 under the name Wild Rose.
Wild Rose College began on Treaty 7 territory in Southern Alberta--the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
1977-1982 Wild Rose Clinic is Established
A brick and mortar clinic was established in Elbow Park in Calgary, AB. By 1982, the clinic was too small for the demand. More space was needed so amidst all the downtown bars, a permanent residence of the college was born.
1983-Survival Skills and Herb Walks
Expanding from the classroom and moving to a fixed outdoor location, these weekend and summer intensives were hosted in Turner Valley, at “Freeman’s Place”—a Southern Alberta ranch, lasting a decade.
1986-1988 Wild Rose Expands
In 1986 there was enough demand to open a campus in Vancouver. Interestingly, it was the Yugoslavian Embassy building that was rented. Terry found out that 30 phone lines in the building were connected to a spy network. Various other rentals over the years were established in the Kitsilano area. These classes ran many years until 2001.
1988-Partnership with Indigenous affairs offered a subsidy/scholarship program
This led to approximately half of the students being of Indigenous heritage who were now learning with Wild Rose through a blended in-person and correspondence model. Taking place in the Pemberton and Whistler area, the subsidy program lasted for approximately 7 years. Many teachers from various backgrounds taught at this time: Western herbalists, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, the Mount Currie Medicine Man, and Ryan Drum, to name a few.
1989-Wild Rose is Flourishing
Colleagues began bringing Terry to Hong Kong to see patients a few times a year. Around the time of the protest in Tiananmen Square, Terry asked several practitioners from China to come to Canada and work at his Wild Rose Calgary Clinic. Joining these TCM and massage masters were Western Herbalists, naturopaths, body workers, Reiki masters, acupuncturists, and Homeopathic practitioners who all came together to create a healing clinic—with 7 treatments rooms—that also taught students full time 12-15 hour days, 5-7 days a week. Apprenticeship programs also evolved during this time.
1990-1995 Wild Rose Continues to Grow
The Wild Rose Clinic would grow to be the largest integrated holistic healing centre in Western Canada at that time. Even more teachers joined, including practitioners in Ayurveda, Chi-gong, and Spinology. These were busy years for Terry. He saw 20-35 patients a day, or up to 100 while he was traveling and lecturing on the road! The school ran from September to April and summer intensives were created in B.C. and Calgary to run Wilderness workshops. Guest lecturers and clinicians came from all over the world including China, India, Tibet, Spain, the U.S., and France.
Doreen Spence Joins Wild Rose
Doreen was the Canadian representative in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in the United Nations and eventually received the prestigious Order of Canada. She was one of the first Indigenous woman to obtain a Nursing Certificate in which she was a force of nature and caring in her field for over 40 years. She taught Indigenous studies and saw patients during her 20 years at Wild Rose. She brought sacred healing traditions including smudging, sound therapy, and acutonics.
1996-2013 Wild Rose was an Early Adopter of Online Technology
Adding Wild Rose courses online started once the internet was evolving. By 2013 the school officially moved online. Although the Practical Herbalist Diploma, Master Herbalist, and Clinical Herbalists Programs existed in 1983, these have now evolved into more complex programs.
2015-Terry Semi-Retires
Wild Rose College Alumni Yarrow Willard, Cl.H. becomes director of Wild Rose College. Fortunately for Wild Rose students, Terry continues to remain active within the college by continuing to create courses, regularly contributing content, and hosting webinars in the Herbal Village.
2015 - Wild Rose College Moves Online
Terry shifts into semi-retirement: his son, Clinical Herbalist Yarrow Willard, takes over direction of the College and moves it online to better serve the modern student
2018-Unveiling the Wild Rose Herbal Village
A growing online community of herbalists, herb nerds, herbal students and teachers, our Wild Rose Herbal Village is a private membership group moderated by practicing herbalists. With hundreds of hours of live webinar recordings, seasonal intensives, herbal make-along tutorials, it is a safe space for camaraderie, networking, and connection with kindred herbal spirits.
2019-Launch of the Clinical Herbalist Apprenticeship Program
Paused between our move from brick and mortar to online college, our popular Clinical Herbalist Program launches again. With dozens of clinical herbalists available for mentoring, students can now complete their required practicum hours with ease at an affordable price. Wild Rose College started offering online clinical blocks in 2022.
Expert Advisory Committee on Herbs and Botanical Preparations
Terry, founder of Wild Rose Herbal College, is appointed to the Expert Advisory Committee on Herbs and Botanical Preparations
Campuses in Calgary & Vancouver
Countless students attend Wild Rose courses and programs at our brick-and-mortar campuses in Alberta and British Columbia
Wild Rose College Sponsors the Vancouver Island Herb Gathering
Connecting herbalists from across North America and hosted on beautiful Vancouver Island, Wild Rose Herbal College sponsors the unique herb gathering since its creation in 2013 and still growing strong!
A Modern Spin on Timeless Courses
Wild Rose College herbal courses get a modern spin with the addition of video content and updated course material.
The Wild Rose Team
A team of passionate and talented herbalists stands behind Wild Rose Herbal College. Let us introduce ourselves.