Rhodos have very shallow, fragile roots. I think I would probably just mulch.

By the way, they are pretty forgiving when cut back, and they transplant pretty easily (in case you decide you'd like to move them after all).

I had to move our over 10-year-old Rhododendron in the fall because I had to make room for a truck delivery of a shed. I like it better where it is now, and it appears to be doing fine. I was am going to put more mulch around it, but I also thought of trying to plant an annual vine like Morning Glory (at the end of May - for zone 5) that could use it to grow on.

I love smaller leaved azaleas mixed in with them, but they bloom in spring too. Another thing you could add would be Hydrangeas,which bloom in summer and come in various sizes and shapes.

Other shade lovers are hostas, which look lice all summer, but don't produce much of a flower. I'm not sure about perenial shade lovers, but you might check out the cottage forum where many use perenials.

astilbe would be nice. pulmonaria. I have a silver one called Majeste that looks great near my rhodies. Coral bells. Daylilies. 5 hours of sun is pretty good. There should be many perennials that will do fine there.

Wendy

I've had some great luck with the rhodies at my parent's house, underplanting them with lily of the valley and the japanese 'painted' ferns. the LoV will grow in DEEP shade, and since the wild rhodies and laurels all seem to have ferns growing near them, it seemed like a natural match.

japanese painted fern; hostas of any kind; heuchera; hardy gloxinia are awesome grouped near the front; lysimachia 'goldi' as a groundcover.

Where I grew up in NoCA on the coast, species fuschia grew wild with the Rhodies...

Here is a link that might be useful: species fuchsia...

ooh- fuschias and Rhodies? what a match- Van, they're houseplants around here- but I could put them in their baskets on short pedestals, and get the same effect- you're a genius!~

I have about 30 Rhodys. I have found that violets work well around them. I also mulch and the violets just keep growing and their fragrance is wonderful. They don't bloom all of the time but mine are blooming right now and will bloom some off and on all year.