My neighbor grows hers in mostly shade.

Mine get late sun, between 5:30 and 6:30 and wilts until it is in the shade again.
I grow fanick phlox in full sun.

I have them both in full sun and partial shade, they do equally well as long as they get enough water. They are blooming now (not the John Fannick yet) and they are one of my favorite flowers. Some that I have (my mom called them standing phlox because we also grew sand phlox that were low to the ground) are from her garden. They are MANY years old, and I hope I never lose them.