Why is my bare-root hosta still so small a year after planting? Check the crown

This looks like a small but living hosta, and having been planted bare-root last year is a strong explanation for its slow start. Variegated varieties also often grow more slowly than all-green ones. The partial shade and consistent moisture you describe sound suitable.

What stands out in the photograph is how exposed the crown is above the soil. A hosta's bud or crown should usually sit at ground level or be lightly covered, rather than raised above it like a small lump. In this position the roots can dry more quickly, and the plant puts even more of its energy into surviving rather than growing leaves.

What to do now

• Add fine soil or compost around the plant until the crown is just lightly covered.
• Continue to keep the soil evenly moist, particularly in dry spells, without leaving it waterlogged.
• A thin layer of organic material around the plant can help retain moisture, but do not pack it directly against the shoots.
• Leave it undisturbed for the rest of this year too. There has been no recent disturbance, and moving it now could only set it back again.

If it still has only a couple of very small leaves after this season, it may be worth checking the roots carefully next spring. Nothing in your photograph clearly points to disease, though; it looks more like slow establishment combined with being planted a little too high.