I can only offer what I know about my yellow corydalis that have seeded everywhere from a couple of small clumps. They bloom heavily. I think yours may need more sun to bloom.. Everywhere they seeded & bloom are in bright but not baking hot sun most of the day. between rocks in stone walls and in a large crack in a raised bed. So their roots are between the cool rocks. Maybe that means they like lean soil, maybe that means they like a cool root run. I'm sure others can chime in.

An additional benefit is that blooming corydalis are often self seeding.

The seedlings love nooks and crannies. 90% of mine self seeded between rocks in stone walls and that one raised bed timber.

I do not remember where I planted my original hand me downs. I know they did not thrive or self seed for a few years and I may have had to try more than once. Their roots, you may have noticed are very brittle so get as much soil as you can. Don't over fertilize them. They don't seem to need rich soil or very little soil come to think of it!.

If you are going to bother to transplant them it might worth it to create an environment like the one I described. If you have stone walls plant one or two near those and maybe some seeds might find their way there.

My impression is that they grow where they want to grow. They did not listen to my directions but did what they wanted to do, with abandon.

Yes. It’s a weed around here and grows out of walls, not necessarily in shade. Do not fertilize.

Thank you both for your replies; I was afraid they’d need more sun but was really hoping they’d work out for me in this particular area of my garden. I grow Annabelle hydrangea successfully there and also a few hosta, but it seems too dark for anything else, even astilbe which I had to remove for lack of flowering. Perhaps some pretty Japanese painted ferns will help brighten the area.

I was afraid they’d need more sun

You say that your Annabelles do well in the same location. Then I would expect that your Lutea will come around and flower.