Herb takes Virginia to be wild (6)
I believe the answer is:
savage
'be wild' is the definition.
('savage' can be similar in meaning to 'wild')
'herb takes virginia' is the wordplay.
'herb' becomes 'sage' (sage is a kind of herb**).
'takes' indicates putting letters inside.
'virginia' becomes 'va' (US state abbreviation).
'sage' enclosing 'va' is 'SAVAGE'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for savage that I've seen before include "Fierce, uncontrolled" , "Violent, uncontrolled" , "Brutally criticise" , "poet who escaped death penalty" , "Ferocious" .)