Joseph's Take
I most prefer to plant Rhododendron informally at the edge of a forest where they will get a little morning sun and a lot of afternoon shade. I love to mix the varieties of rhododendron and shade loving azaleas. Azaleas grow to be a little smaller and bloom a little earlier. Therefore I can enjoy watching plants bloom all spring from my kitchen window. I picked some great companions as suggestions at the bottom of this page.
As in with all Rhododendron, make sure to plant in a shady area, plant high, and use soil conditioner as a medium when planting as they prefer well drained soil. This planting technique is especially important if you have clay soil.
Be sure to use a well drained soil medium when planting any Rhododendron as they prefer fall planting with less watering than you might think. In NC our soil is clay so we prefer to use pine bark soil conditioner when planting Camellia, Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, and Azalea.
