RS is one of those hostas that seem to do best in a pot - at least for me. The combination of white centered (poor chlorophyll production) and planted under a notorious hosta killer, maple, I'm surprised that it made it through two years.

With the leaves sticking out of the soil like that, I'd say the crown is planted too deep. And with it having so much white in it, shade may not be the best option for it. Like Gary said, maple tree roots aren't a good idea for any hosta either. Since he also said that this hosta does best in a pot, I'd suggest planting it in well-draining media (bark mixed in), making sure the crown is not planted too deep, and move the pot around until you find the right spot for it. Too much sun and it'll burn, too little and it probably won't grow much (although shade may be better for it right now since it's struggling). I'd stick it in the ground before Winter, and move it back into the pot in Spring.

If you do change the media right now, you might as well give it a quick 10% bleach dip before sticking it into the fresh soil. You'll want to water the pot regularly, but don't overwater either especially if you keep it in the shade.

When a hosta is doing poorly, it is time to look at the roots and the crown. You may have root rot and/or crown rot. If you don't deal with it, then it will get worse. So remove the media from the hosta roots and see what is going on below the surface. If you could take a picture, we could advise you further.

Ok. I dug it out of pot and rinsed with water so we can see the roots and crown

The roots and the crowns look fairly good, so it's worth the effort to try and save them. Plant them in a one gallon pot in a well draining potting mix (what shows in the original pictures looks like garden soil and is NOT what you want to use) and make sure the crown isn't set too deep, no more than half an inch at the most. Water them in well and set them in a bright shade. There may be special considerations for your area regarding over-wintering them in pots. Let us know what your winters are like...

Pieter

I'm zone 5, southern WI, within 5 miles of Lake Michigan. We can get some pretty cold winters with windchills below 0 and even reg temperatures below 0 though not usually more than 10 below 0 all F. We can get snow falls in excess of 15 inches and occasional blizzards. Last couple of years though. have been milder temperatures and less snow.

I do not like the roots, they are not good- tips of the older roots are dark and do not seem to be alive, The result- hosta looks badly. If it were my plant- I cut the old part with old roots. You wll get 3 small plants.Then put them in pots- not too big. And wait for the signs of growing ! (I keep such pots even in the house) When Your RS stands on young roots - You will see young leaves.Though it is august already...

I find it difficult to really see the roots from your picture. (Note: vertical photos do not enlarge when you click on the photo, but horizontal photos do.) Consider doing the bleach bath. That will whiten the good roots and you will be able to see much clearer the good roots versus the bad. You can separate the plants probably quite easily, but I would plant them all together in a pot that just fits the roots with well draining media.

I would just plant it in the ground this year, depends on your soil might add a bit of compost. Roots are not great but this is what you have. It is enough to recover.

If you must keep it in pot I would just get good soiless medium to plant into. I like promix as my go to but there are other brands that will do.

Roots above the crown - right? I think that it was originally planted too deeply. At what level would everyone replant? Should the rightmost stem in the 1st pic (of roots) be cut below the top set of roots (above the crown) and planted separately so that the rest of the plant can be planted at crown depth?

The new roots look healthy and I see a new bud or two already developed. I think it would be safer planted in the ground as soon as possible and planted at the height of uppermost roots. Agree that initially it was planted too deeply hence the two layers of roots. It has ample time for roots to get established before the onset of fall and winter.

Planted one RS like that it in the ground; it died back but resprouted with new leaves and is a slow grower. Lightly bleach roots and replant NOT TOO deep - make sure limited direct sun until re-established

Update on Raspberry Sundae! I put it in potting soil in a gallon asPieter 7/8 B.C. Suggested. I put in shade in the garden, no maple tree there. Watered good. Couldn't believe my eyes this morning! There are two new leaves coming. I gently put in back in the ground with potting soil all round. Two lease were dead so I cut those off. I have feeling it will make it now. Thanks to all!

Two leaves dead that is,not lease!