Abstract: Through the study on photosynthetic characteristics of Rhododendron rivulare, the research aims to provide the theory basis for the garden application and genetic resources protection of Rhododendron rivulare. In this paper, the photosynthetic diurnal variation and its correlation with environmental factors of Rhododendron rivulare were studied under the natural conditions by using Li- 6400 portable photosynthesis measurement system. The results showed that the curves of diurnal variation of photosynthetic rate and stomata conductance of Rhododendron latouchea leaves had two peaks and the peaks and depression occurred in accordance with each other, peaks at 11:00 and 15:00, and depression at 13:00. Correlation analyses showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between photosynthetic rate and conductance to H2O (P＜ 0.05). Based on the photosynthetic characteristics, Rhododendron latouchea cultivars were suited to growing in Hunan Province, and appropriate to be planted in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region.