I'm sure that the rosemary you bought was pruned up to be a Christmas tree which they hate. I had one and planted it in the ground and let it go back to it's natural shape, and it is doing great now. The Christmas tree rosemarys are the upright version, and all of that pruning makes them very unhappy.

Regarding your rosemary in the back yard, well they do like an occasional drink of water, but they don't like to sit with wet feet. So I suggest that you water it thoroughly and then let it dry out completely between waterings. Also an occasional foliar spray of fish and/or seaweed emulsion won't hurt it, but avoid the heavy duty fertilizers.

Actually rosemary is a very easy perennial herb to grow in Texas. Rosemary is a hardy evergreen-shrub but will die if temperature drops below 5 degrees to 10 degrees F. It normally grows 4 to 6 feet tall and produces gray-green foliage and pale blue flowers. It grows best in dry, sunny areas. I was reading in one of my herb books that rosemary is an Evergreen Shrub in Zones 6-10. And Site "Sheltered and sunny." Soil "Well-drained, poor soil containing some lime."

And there is a rosemary that is very hardy which can sustain freezing temperatures and it is grown here in Texas Arp Rosemary. So it might depend on which variety of rosemary that you are growing.

Thanks for the follow up- the previous owners planted the tree right up against the back of my house... right by a rain gutter! I think that perhaps I didnt do well with all of the summer rains but by now should be fine? im going to pick out a new spot for the potted rosemary and see how it does.

My rosemary in large pots froze Winter before last. I trimmed the top dead branches off and they did return with vigor so evidently the roots were OK. I had them hooked up to the sprinkler system so they did get plenty of water. One thing about rosemary, they do not like to sit in water but they do need ample water. The old saying is "A dry rosemary is a dead rosemary", so pot culture can be difficult in that they need to be watered often but they like the fast draining aspect. So the bigger the pot the better as surrounding soil can be like slow release watering. Another thing about keeping them in pots is they do not seem to be long living-Âmaybe 4 years.

I would suspect the topiary was indoors too long. It sounds just like the one I had. I planted it outside but think I waited too long. It died.

I've since been really successful growing rosemary outdoors. In the metroplex, we've gotten enough water that I don't water them. My very oldest plant which is maybe 6 years old is growing around the mailbox so it's surviving in a really dry and hot environment. It's probably 4 by 3ft now. It would be bigger but I try to keep it off the sidewalk and out of the street. It does get some die back at the base. I trim the dead parts and it just puts on more growth.

If you are on clay soil which holds water well, I think I'd move the rosemary. If it's sandy and draining well, it should be fine. Alternatively, take some cuttings and try rooting them. I stick them in a pot, put a plastic bag over it, leave it in shade and in maybe a week or two or three you'll have rooted cutting.

Why not get a cutting off of the old one in the back and root it in the same type soil . That way you know it will grow.
We had a very large one in the flower bed and we had so much rain it died and we replanted one in an area with very good drainage and have had no problems since. Good luck

I have several rosemary plants in my yard. They are all in the ground and seem to do well here in Belton. Cutting of both prostrate and upright rosemary root very easily, just stick them into the potting soil or the bed where you want the new plant. Keep the cuttings watered and they will take off.

If your pot plant is brittle, it most likely has died. Get another one or if a neighbor has a plant ask for a cutting. Good Luck, rosemary is a great plant for Texas.

With the extended drought a once a month water even in winter is a good idea. Especially a few days before a 'real' cold front. With prolonged below freezing weather in winter rosemary is much more likely to take freeze damage. A well hydrated plant is a happier plant in the cold and wind of winter. This is true with any plant and since we forgot how to water last year we got spoiled and I am hearing of a lot more freeze damage than normal since the rain stopped in Sept. of 2007 we all need to be watching our watering habits even with a xeric plant like rosemary.
Just some thoughts that I hope will help.
Happy Growing David

Great advice! thanks all!