Something's missing...oh yeah FLOWERS!

[isurus79]

So not to , but sun seems to be the key. The plant in your last pic has foliage that is way too dark. I think your first pic is the Gramm. I live farther south than you do so my sun is much stronger and all the Gramms here THRIVE on full sun all day long. You would have to acclimate accordingly (over the course of a several weeks), but I think it would do your plants a world of difference. Also, if your friends have thrown their plants in the bushes and forgotten about them and it works.........then why havnt you done the same??