Abstract: To understand the reproductive traits of Rhododendron wardii, a native shrub evaluated as least concern in the southwest mountains of China, pollination ecology of this species was investigated in a population on Baima Snow Mountain in northwest Yunnan in two years. The results showed that in florescences of R. wardii predominantly bear 5 to 7 flowers. The flowers exhibit characteristic herkogamy and produce nectar. Both autonomous selfing and apomixis did not occur in R. wardii, and partial self-compatibility was identified in this species. Manual outcrossing increased fruit set significantly, indicating pollination limitation of seed production in R. wardii. Emasculation reduced fruit set significantly, indicating the occurrence of pollinator medicated selfing within one flower. Bees, flies, butterflies and beetles were observed to visit R. wardii, but bees and flies were determined as the effective pollinators, although the total visiting frequencies of bees and flies were very low, which could contribute to the pollination limitation of seed production. The pollen limitation of seed production resulting from low pollinator visiting frequency could be alleviated by artificial propagation to augment plant density, which may improve conditions for cross-pollination of R. wardii.