As far as I know holly trees will grow very slowly in the shade, and not reach their height potential.

In my USDA zone 6b with high heat and humidity in the summers, most holly cultvars need plenty of direct sun along with shaded feet. In fact, their inner stems shaded or even the lower branches which receive too little light, by improper pruning of the shrubs, stay leafless and bare.

I have seen reports that Burford Holly cultivars can do fine in sun to part shade. My daughter planted some dwarf Burfords in a high shade portion of her north facing foundation bed, and they still seem to be healthy after growing in that spot for the last few months. Her place is in the USDA zone 8, and that most likely means that the Burfords could act differently in your Z5.

Maybe someone else in your zone has found some holly cultivars that will thrive better than I described in the shade.

In heavy shade, they may have larger leaves and longer internodes, giving them a looser appearance than if grown in plenty of sunlight. Height is less of an issue, though.

You would fertilize them sparingly, if at all (depending upon your soil). Pachysandra, btw, prefers an acid soil, as well.

Chesapeake holly will do well in a shady area but still needs a little sun. I have shady areas and grow them there. They are pyramidal in shape and leaves resemble boxwood somewhat.