It simply heaved out of the ground over the winter in repeated frost/thaw cycles. Put it where you want to plant it at crown level and don't worry about it, it should grown just fine, the roots look healthy.

Pieter

Pieter..thanks..didn't want to leave it there tonight..there were some pips of other BME next to the heaved one that look fine..aggravating since I just replanted it last spring..would it be a good idea to put rocks by it next fall?..

My BME crowns always go up above soil level. In pots! So do their offspring. But there is very little crown there, with only one eye. Plant it at eye level (haha) in a pot. Didn't Ken say he quit the Mice for this very reason?

Just the way the cookie crumbles.

-Babka

Babka..even in mild CA your BME rise to the surface?..good to know that I'm not just a lousy planter!!..too cute not to keep..will replant every year I guess haha..

Yes, the whole darned crown is sitting there above the soil (not the roots). Wold take a pic but it is dark outside right now. Perhaps tomorrow...

-Babka

quirky little things aren't they?..are your hostas completely up and leafed out?..

Mostly all of them. Clifford's Stingray waits until July!!!!!! ( or close to it). I usually take my "school photos" in mid-May. That is when they look their very best here.

-Babka

The minis seem to do better for me planted just a tad higher than normal whether planted or in a pot. It seems to make them more vigorous but just as important, they should be getting more sun exposure to give them a boost when young. If it were me I would replant it with that wee crown above the soil line. :)

Planting firmly, then laying hefty enough stones around them could prevent some heaving...and being uprooted by squirrels as well.

Jo..it was in a great location..morning sun..will replant in the same spot and resist the urge to plant it too deep..this small Venusta was moved last summer..was growing by a boxwood that got big and it was hidden..fell apart when I dug it out so I spread it around when I replanted it..looks well rooted..don't get why the mouse won't stay put but I'm happy that I can save it..

I went out to take a photo, but all my mice are pretty much up and won't allow me to get a camera in the pot very easily. Here is a pic of Dancing mouse, which gets taller than BME, but you can see how the crown humps up. -Babka

FWIW - my BMEs used to be in a pot and did this every year.... Last summer I planted it in the garden, all looked normal to me... and now it's entire crown is up on top of the soil, just like it always was in the pot (but thankfully its roots are still rooted). I'm assuming this is just the way it is, and the way it likes to grow.

I agree Windymess, that is its growth habit. Nicholsworth, once it develops more feeder roots, more of those lateral and surface roots there will be more dirt to adhere to and bind it more closely to its growing locale. This growing season should provide that. Another suggestion would be to grow it in water to develop more roots faster (which I have done) but not everyone is comfortable with this process (as per previous discussions on this topic).

I think your tiny Mouse will be just fine once you replant it and grow into a fine little hosta for you. Due to its current size it also wouldn't hurt to grow it in a small/tiny pot not much bigger than itself for a couple of months where you can monitor it. It will grow faster and develop more roots in the medium as it is a softer, aerated mix than in garden dirt, in my opinion. You could then plant it back in the ground around the usual root-growing time in July/August. There are options...up to you. :-)

Yep - mine grew like crazy in its pot....

A tiny pot is a good solution. It will start growing in no time at all. For me Blue Mouse Ears is growing nicely in a pot, 6 eyes last year, this year 13...

Babka..I see exactly what you're talking about..and yet the plant looks perfect

windymess..so they climb out of the ground AND out of pots..appreciate knowing that I'm not the only one with this experience..

Jo..good explanation..so tiny that there's not enough "grip" to hold it..

Karin..yours has so many eyes!..I took this pic of another one in a different spot..the pips have not unfurled but they are much bigger..

We had a unusually long period of frozen soil this year and a lot of my hostas have been lifted out quite a bit...but that did not stop them from growing more pips :-) I was concerned when I checked them the first time, but meanwhile I'm just happy ...

Karin..you can always tell when a garden has an owner that cares..the owner notices problems and takes care of it..sad to think how many plants are ignored..but we do our part to take care of as many as we can right? (haha)

Karin..GORGEOUS maple..so rewarding when needy plants recover..