I think you are answering your own question - if it didn't grow in spot a and died in spot b; and.... the only way to get a decent looking one is to buy 4 to plant together and hope they survive......Plant A Different Hosta That Grows Well. Though, it is easier to give advise than take it - I planted a second multi-eyed GE last year in morning sun.

Paul

I consider the moving of the old GE as a learning experience. GE doesn't like wet. I have a new spot in mind that doesn't stay as wet but will still get the full afternoon sun.

If GE wasn't so pretty when the centers turn white, I don't think people would keep trying to grow it. ahem... lol

As for the spot that stays wet, I have to raise the area and add some sand to the soil. I won't plant any expensive hosta in that spot until I can get some cheap ones to grow there first.

Well, give it a try! Great Expectations requires bright morning sun and an ample amount of moisture in order to survive....and no root competition...

Another option is to try a different, but similar, cultivar that is reported to grow better...perhaps Dream Queen, Dream Weaver, or Thunderbolt. J.D.'s Luck, another GE sport, is also reported to be a better grower, and there's a new sport called Beach Boy.

There also are a couple which look somewhat similar to GE, but which are better growers. I'm thinking of Simply Sharon, Temptation, and Hudson Bay.

So, what I'm saying is there's a lot to choose from...you don't have to go with GE if you shop around a little for these newer varieties.

Here's a link which may be helpful: GardenWeb posting about hosta Beach Boy

I planted 'Great Expectations' in 2004 when I knew nothing about hostas and had "no expectations" of how it would grow! These many years later it still has 4 eyes, but they are huge and healthy and every year it proves to be a beautiful plant. I suppose now that I know it should GROW I will be disappointed!
Jan

Frank, pot one up and stick it by the trunk of one of your trees where it will gets some sun.

My old GE did great with 5 hours of afternoon sun. I have Dream Queen and Thunderbolt. DQ looks nice but is only two eyes while the other has barely produced a second very small shoot on his third year. The first year having it come up, it sent up a scape before producing any leaves. I cut it off which forced the leaves. I just bought Temptation this year and three TCs of Hudson Bay last year.

The Great X I have are mostly along the house, just barely under the eaves, One is even in a rock garden with the infamous anti weed mat under the rock.

Most of our garden areas have been poorly thought out and luck when I look back at it..

The Great X would be getting less rain than if they were out in the open. I do have one in the far back yard tucked up close under lilac shrubs, back there it gets VERY wet when it rains hard, it makes a small river when it storms, also the neighbors sump pump drains back to that general area.

I would sure like to get some consistent warmer temps to see what they are going to become this year.. So many of the Hosta just seem confused.. A few of them have been sticking out like a straw for 2-3 weeks, who knows if they will EVER unfold their leaves? :)

My second GE is planted in a place where it gets morning sun until noon,then goes into dappled shade for the rest of the day. I think this is its optimum location,even though it is still slow-growing. I planted my Dream Queen not too far from it,but in a little more shade,and it grows very well there.So,even though both of them are slow-growing,they both seem to like where they are. Another slow growing one I have is Golden Meadows. Still only one eye,after a couple years,but it is beautiful this year. Sum of All is another slow grower,at least in my garden. Phil

This is from a display garden. But you know it can be done.

I agree with Don. Morning sun. Lot's of water. And get it away from those Maple roots.

Steve

This is an old GE, I have a few, but the voles ate the bottom of my best one last winter, so now I have a tone of little ones, eeeerrrrrr! I HATE voles.

I have 2 GE, one is in morning sun and has 6 eyes, looks normal.
The other GE has 5 eyes, sits on a little berm, gets regular water from the vegetable garden, gets more sun and behaves funky. Last year's second flush of leaves were streaked. The 5 eyes are spaced this year as if the center eyes died out, so I am curious to see the leaves this year.
Last fall's funky GE :

I planted my GE under evergreens BEFORE I knew any better. This was in 2007. As well as the deeper roots, these evergreens have very shallow feeder roots. I knew GE was a slow grower but thought I was up to the challenge at the time. How naive, can you get??? GE gets morning sun (which I had read it likes) for about two hours and ample water. It hasn't grown much but then it hasn't dwindled either. It hasn't emerged yet this year. I had been thinking of digging it up and removing any tree roots from the clump, amending the soil with compost and alfalfa pellets/bone meal at the bottom of the hole to give it a boost before the tree roots start invading again. NOW, after reading all of the comments above, I think I will just leave GE undisturbed and fertilize with Miracle Gro several times this summer.

BTW, something that has worked for me in the past in wet areas is adding a few inches of gravel at the bottom of the planting hole. I also combine the planting hole soil with a product called Turface which absorbs moisture and improves drainage. Turface is expensive, so I use it sparingly.