I don't know what the problem is with my leadplants, either.
About aggressiveness and ratty looking, those things are usually not a concern of mine since I am wanting to feed wildlife and insects. Though something was beginning to dig up the newly planted Black Cohosh. ??? That was a freebie, so it's ok.
So far, I've got patches of milkweeds, several varieties. The Monarchs did well this year.
I already got the Coralberry and it sounds like a winner for what I wanted it for. This is one thing it is host for,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... and it feeds Bobwhites... oh, I like those birds!