Rhododendron orbiculare Decne.

Rhododendron orbiculare subsp. maolingense G. Z. Li (Guihaia 15: 294. 1995), described from Guangxi, is said to differ from subsp. orbiculare in its relatively narrow leaf blade (6–16 × 4–7 cm), longer corolla (ca. 7 cm), more numerous stamens (15–16), and more massive capsule (3–4 × ca. 1.5 cm). From the abbreviated description, it may be a species distinct from R. orbiculare; however, a proper comparison with other species in R. subsect. Fortunea is required.

Shrubs, rarely small trees, 1–4.5(–15) m tall; young shoots usually ca. 5 mm in diam., green, glabrous. Petiole cylindric, 30–70 mm, glabrous; leaf blade thickly leathery, oblong to orbicular, 5–12.5 × 5.5–10.5 cm; base cordate-auriculate to rounded, the lobes often overlapping; apex obtuse or rounded; both surfaces usually glabrous; abaxial surface glaucous; adaxial surface green; midrib raised abaxially, grooved adaxially; lateral veins 10–14-paired, impressed adaxially. Inflorescence 7- or 8-flowered; rachis 15–25 mm, glandular. Pedicel 2.5–3.5 cm, puberulent, glandular; calyx ca. 1.5 mm, margin undulate, glandular; corolla campanulate, rose, 3.2–3.5 cm, glabrous; lobes 6–8, ovate, 1.3–1.5 × ca. 1.8 cm, emarginate; stamens 11–14, 1–2 cm, filaments glabrous; ovary conoid, ca. 8 × 2.5 mm, densely glandular-hairy; style ca. 1.8 cm, glabrous; stigma capitate, ca. 2 mm in diam. Capsule cylindric, curved, 22–30 × 5–6 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct.

NE Guangxi, SW Sichuan.

Forests, rocky slopes; 1400–3500(–4000) m.

Rhododendron orbiculare, the round-leaved rhododendron (Chinese: 团叶杜鹃; pinyin: tuányè dùjuān), is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae that is native to forests and slopes at an elevation of 1,400–3,500 m (4,600–11,500 ft) in northeastern Guangxi and southwestern Sichuan, China. It is a compact evergreen shrub growing to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall and broad, with matt-textured round leaves and trusses of deep pink flowers in spring.

In cultivation in the UK Rhododendron orbiculare has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F) but like most rhododendrons it requires a sheltered spot in dappled shade, and an acid soil enriched with leaf mould.