I couldn't be more pleased with my Hypericum 'Albury Purple' which here in Seattle is evergreen and a performer 12 months a year. Not certain of the longevity, mine is 3 years old & thriving. No seedlings as yet. It's a lovely counterpoint with all of the chartruese things. My barberry 'Aurea' are underplanted with sedum 'Dragons Blood' which are in-planted with lilac colchicum so that in the early autumn that part of the bed is quite lively. Also nice with the barberry 'Aurea' is the dahlia 'Bishop of Llandorf' with it's burgundy foliage & simple red flowers. And a good background for any of the chartruese plants is Sambucus nigra, 'Black Beauty' with blackish red leaves & bright pink blossoms. In this zone it's an agressive grower & can be pruned to suit your needs, plus there's a wonderful Tuscan bread that is made with the flowers.

I would use the spirea at the Church. Reason...the weigela performs best with moist soil & requires early spring pruning. The spirea adapts to dry soil quite well & shouldn't need much pruning except to rejuvenate it every few years. So, I believe the spirea would be the easier keeper for the spot you've described.

Likely having problems with hot and dry conditions of summer. Maybe it needs to be watered more and/or put in a different, less bright spot.

If you have this plant, lets make a trade. davidmooc@yahoo.com