The first two of these 'best growing sites' seem strangely at odds with each other:

Choosing a site to grow columbines

Columbine grows best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. For most climates, columbine grows best in partial shade; however, in warmer climates like Florida and Southern California, less sun and more shade is preferred.

Translation: They really don't care where they grow.

Welcome to NGA, @RickinOK .

There are different types of columbines... I have the native Eastern columbines here, which self-sow pretty readily and tend to move themselves into partial shade. The "fancier" types seem to like more sun -- at least in my northern climate.

As one goes farther south, the rays are more intense, so an individual plants' tolerance to that could be reached at some point, meaning a full sun plant in Alaska might fry in Alabama.

At odds.....

Here in the subtropical heat, columbines welcome the relief of afternoon shade.

Up where the sunlight and temp is moderate, columbines can do with the extra light.

Until you've had the oppurtunity to garden in different parts of the country, it's conceivable that you don't realize the differences in climate, and as a result, the differences in what grows where.

We can't grow a ton of plants they grow in the temperate gardens.... And, they can't grow our standbys.

@RickinOK,

I agree with all of the above. Columbines can grow in partial shade or light shade. They can grow in sull sun but if your climate is extreme the Columbines may need extra water to compensate for the excessive sun/heat. Wind exposure contributes to the mix also as it can rob the plant of moisture.

Your question is a good example of why it is important to take a moment to complete your profile page to show your general location and climate zone. And just because your screen name makes it look light you may be gardening in Oklahoma...where the wind comes sweeping down the plain... we cannot assume the screen name indicates your actual location.

@RickinOK - Welcome!

Yes, I agree with what everyone else said. When I first encountered Columbines I was living in Colorado. They bloom all summer there (if my memory serves, which it might not). That means they grow in high altitudes where the air is thin and not as @greene said 'where the wind comes sweeping down the plain'. Further, the thin air at high altitudes means the sun can hit really hard. I can attest to that having had a sunburn on my scalp which really hurts, and if you ever go to the mountains be sure to wear a cap, hat or bandana.

On the other hand, columbines in Texas would wilt in the heat. They need shade and have a short growing period.

Here is the NGA page that the thread starter is quoting.

The Columbines Database

There does seem to be a problem in the article Danita linked:

"Columbine grows best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. For most climates, columbine grows best in partial shade; however, in warmer climates like Florida and Southern California, less sun and more shade is preferred."

Yes, your climate will dictate where you should grow some plants. I come originally from the Pacific Northwest where it is cool and rainy most of the year. Columbines are very happy to grow in full sun there.

We moved to Utah and lived there for 20 years, where the high altitude desert climate made me adjust my planting methods drastically. Columbines grow in filtered shade very nicely there, but needed extra water. In too much sun they basically fry, and the flowers are small and pitiful.

Now I live in Florida. Have not seen any columbines growing here at all, but maybe they will grow in northern Florida where they get at least a little bit of a winter dormant period.

Hi, RickinOK! Welcome to NGA. Thanks for finding and commenting on that article!

RickinOK said:The first two of these 'best growing sites' seem strangely at odds with each other:

Choosing a site to grow columbines

Columbine grows best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. For most climates, columbine grows best in partial shade; however, in warmer climates like Florida and Southern California, less sun and more shade is preferred.

@Dave, new member RickinOK found a seeming contradiction in the NGA page about Columbines:
The Columbines Database

(Are acorns awarded for finding defects in articles? I think that correcting a "fact" should be rewarded even more than just adding a fact.)

It seems to say that columbines grow best in full sun, but in most climates, they grow better in partial shade or even more shade than "partial". It does sound self-contradictory, like "they grow best in full sun, but better in partial shade".

I think it should ideally be re-worded to make clearer what it meant, or maybe corrected.

Maybe just change "full sun" to "sufficient sun", and change "more shade" to "even more shade".

But I have no idea what the most accurate answer would be, myself. Any columbine that I put out, disappeared. Then, years later, one popped up in a bed where I MIGHT have tried to start some, long ago. He's been coming back for several years now. It's a pretty shady spot, even for the PNW coast.

The consensus on this thread seemed to be that they might like "full sun" in a climate where there isn't much sun, but in hot climates, shade is really necessary.

I'm another who agrees that there seems to be a discrepancy in the manner of wording and probably should read more like:

~ In most climates, Columbine grows best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil but in warmer climates like Florida and Southern California, less sun and more shade is preferred.

I'm not sure how far north one needs to go to get to where this plant would prefer full sun. In OH I had them for years in mostly shade & they were spectacular, Z5. Whenever I've spotted wild ones in the woods in OH, they were not in full sun. Most of my hiking was done in Z6.

plantladylin said:I'm another who agrees that there seems to be a discrepancy in the manner of wording and probably should read more like:

~ In most climates, Columbine grows best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil but in warmer climates like Florida and Southern California, less sun and more shade is preferred.

Thank you all and Lin, I edited it with your suggestion.

LOL @Calif_Sue, I know nothing about those beautiful Columbines. I've never seen Columbine growing here in Florida (at least not in the central or southern part of the state, anyway) so, as @purpleinopp/Tiffany mentioned, maybe the statement "In most climates Columbine grows best in full sun" isn't correct.

How about full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon?

Technically full sun is more than half a day of direct sun. Morning sun would be just that, probably.

Ok, edited again "In most climates, columbines grows best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil but in warmer climates, full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon is preferred."

Your mileage may vary.

The words you are looking for are "direct sun in the morning", or "direct morning sun", but "full sun in the morning" is sort of an oxymoron, by definition.

"Full sun" and "direct sun" are not the same thing, whatever their casual use may be. The former implies duration, the latter only intensity.

Thanks for thrashing it out!

Double thanks to RickinOK for spotting it and pointing it out!