Ericaceous foundation plantings for shady 5b northern bed

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MsAndry Lansing, MI Dec 15, 2019

Hello friends,
First post, but long time lurker here in Michigan.

Looking for advice: I have amended and extended the foundation beds of the home we recently purchased that previously grew only hostas and tulips. It was heavy with clay and maple roots. I’ve tilled, built up the beds and incorporated shredded pine bark, peat moss, coarse perlite & sand, elemental sulfur and gypsum. I currently have some low growing phlox and candytuft in the front row that flower well, ~3’ ft hydrangeas in the middle and an assortment of Ericaceous evergreens in the back.
I’d like to have a uniform back row, though, and and wondering which of my current cultivars would do best in this north facing 5b bed. I planted the back row in late summer/early fall, so I have yet to see for myself how they bloom in the spring and I’m looking for recommendations. This row would receive the least amount of sun obviously, direct sunlight in the morning only (1-3 hours) and some radiant light the rest of the day. I have a cape cod home, so the dormers tend to cast shadows moving across the whole bed come 10am or so depending on the season.
My current back row plantings are Pieris Japonica ‘temple bells’, rhododendron ‘boule de neige’, and kalmia latifolia ‘pristine.’ I also have a couple ‘gomer’s waterers’ rhodos I could bring into the the mix - they are currently overwintering in my garage.
Of these, which will bloom best with the least amount of light?
Which should I consider moving up toward the middle or transplanting to my side garden for more sunlight?
I know many sources list all of these as shade loving plants, but considering I am in zone 5B, my experience has been that many plants listed as suitable for shade in warmer zones really need more sun in mid Michigan.
Thank you in advance!

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