Rhododendron fastigiatum Franch.

Small shrubs, usually forming dense cushions or mats, 0.8–1(–1.5) m tall. Petiole 1–2(–3) mm, scaly; leaf blade oblong, elliptic or ovate, (0.45–)0.7–1.4(–1.6) × (0.28–)0.3–0.6 (–0.9) cm; base obtuse or cuneate; apex rounded or obtuse, mucronate; abaxial surface pale gray-green, scales not contiguous, usually uniformly pale fawn, opaque; adaxial surface dark green, scales dense. Inflorescence (1–)3(–5)-flowered. Pedicel 0.2–2 cm, scaly; calyx lobes (2.5–)3–4.5(–5.5) mm, oblong or broadly elliptic, persistent in fruit, scaly, ciliate; corolla broadly funnelform, purple-blue to pinkish purple, 1–1.5(–1.8) cm, tube 3–6.5(–8) mm, outer surface usually sparsely scaly, inner surface pubescent; stamens (6–)10(–11), filaments pubescent towards base; ovary ca. 2 mm, scaly; style longer than stamens, glabrous or rarely puberulous at base. Capsule ovoid, 4–6 mm, densely scaly. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep.

C and NW Yunnan.

Pinus forests, Rhododendron thickets, alpine moorlands, rocky slopes, screes, cliffs; 3000–4500 m.

Rhododendron fastigiatum is a dwarf lepidote rhododendron species with purple flowers native to Yunnan, China. Cultivars include 'Best Dark Purple’.