Yeah, I'm pretty much the same way. I have a majestic palm that looks pretty pitiful. I'll give it a little longer but it's days are numbered!

If something doesn't thrive:
1. Research it to death on Garden Web and Google - I need information, and obviously this plant has more than I do....

2. Move it - maybe it doesn't like the looks of its' current location

3. Complain about it to the neighbors - maybe I can shame it into thriving

4. Give it away - maybe in a cosmic sense it was never mine to begin with

Depends on what it is. Seems that there is a scientific ratio to the more I wanted the plant and the rarer the plant to just how badly it grows.

I'm thinking that palms and others may need the time to ...sleep...creep...and then leap.

That hib looks like Pride of Hankins. Very lovely rose color and prolific bloomer. This is the main rootstock used for hybrid hibiscus in many parts of the world.

And watch out. I saw one at a new subdivision that was easily 18 feet high and 15 feet wide. It was a specimen plant in the front of a huge home.

Aphelandra Sinclairiana.
This dang plant never looked good for me. For 3 years when it bloomed the leaves looked ratty. When the leaves looked good it didn't bloom. Then one day one of those killer winds broke the branches, basically pruning it. Ah ha! Now it blooms and looks good and after it blooms I prune it back.
Everything else that didn't thrive...well, died.
That said, I love your little stone patio. I want one. I agree life is too short to waste on a bad view. The hibiscus tree looks much better.

Kristi I am with you! Twice I have thrown Aph Sins away caused they just plain looked like crap!