Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Banana shrub: a plant I don't understand, 2 by vossner

vossner wrote:
Planted one in dry shade and it promptly died. Planted a 2nd one in a moist, full sun area and it is totally defoliated. But I must confess that for a week or two in July the poor plant went w/o water. I have mended my ways and have started regular watering, and I see a lot of leaf buds, so I'm hopeful. Can you share some tips w/ me? This is a plant I see around a lot in my area, so it must be me....

1st pic is the entire shrub, 2nd pic has red Xs showing leaf buds