Seaborn boxplots shifted incorrectly along x-axis

Question

from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
import pandas as pd
import seaborn as sns

df = pd.DataFrame({})
df[soi_name]=soi
df[outcome_name]=outcome
soi,outcome = utils.format_cols(soi, outcome,'continuous',agg_method)
sns.factorplot(data=df, x=outcome_name,y=soi_name,hue=outcome_name,kind='box')
plt.savefig(ofilepath)

So the code snippet used to generate this boxplot is just above. outcome is a binary float type pandas series. soi is a float type pandas series. This x-axis shift occurs for boxplots and violinplots. When I generate factor plots with the following code:

df = pd.DataFrame({})
df[soi_name]=soi
df[outcome_name]=outcome
sns.factorplot(data=df, x=outcome_name,y=soi_name,hue=outcome_name)
plt.savefig(ofilepath)

...

I get my desired outputs. Any ideas with why the shift for the box plots might be happening?

Answer 1

You have two different hues, such that the first is plotted left of the position and the second is plotted right of the position. This is usually desired, see e.g. this plot from the documentation

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import seaborn as sns

tips = sns.load_dataset("tips")
ax = sns.boxplot(x="day", y="total_bill", hue="time",
                  data=tips, linewidth=2.5)

plt.show()

Here, you wouldn't want to have the blue and orange boxplots overlapping, would you?

But you can, if you want. Use the dodge=False argument for that purpose.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import seaborn as sns

tips = sns.load_dataset("tips")
ax = sns.boxplot(x="day", y="total_bill", hue="time",
                  dodge=False, data=tips, linewidth=2.5)

plt.show()