Flowering phenology and breeding system characteristics are the most important fitness factors of plants, and have an important influence on plant reproductive success. For example, plants that blossom too early or too late are unable to fruit effectively because of changes to environmental factors or due to the absence of effective pollinators. Terminalia franchetii is a characteristic plant in the dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River, southwest China. The community formed by T. franchetii represents a limited and important type of natural vegetation that grows in this region. However, today, habitat destruction and human disturbance factors are having adverse effects on T. franchetii. Although the plant produces large amounts of fruit, the seed abortion rate is extremely high, resulting in few seedlings and saplings being produced, and, consequently, poor forest regeneration. A number of studies have been conducted on the population diversity of this species, along with studies on the regeneration characteristic of seedlings, seed dispersal and seed bank characteristics, phylogeography, species differentiation, and other aspects. However, studies on the reproductive biology of this plant have not been reported. We conducted a fixed-point field investigation of the floral syndrome, flowering process, breeding system, and adaptability of pollinators to the environment of a natural population of T. franchetii in the dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River, China. The results showed that, each year, T.franchetii begins to bloom in early April, and that the flowering duration of the population is approximately 30 days. The plant has the characteristics of high flowering synchrony, and is a typical "mass flowering" species. When single flowers bloom, the stigma initially elongates and expands. Then, approximately 4 days later, the stamens protrude. Because of this dichogamy, the plant, to a certain extent, avoids self-pollination. Flowering is divided into 6 stages; namely, the bud stage, stigma elongation stage, early stamen showing stage, blooming stage, late blooming stage, and flower withering stage. In addition to the bud stage, the pollen is viable throughout the entire flowering period; although, the strongest vitality of the pollen occurs during the early stamen showing and blooming stages. Optimum pollination is avoided due to the asynchrony between pollen vitality and stigma receptivity; however, there is a certain degree of overlap between the two stages. T. franchetii might be adapted to both wind and insect pollination. In the breeding system of this species, out-crossing is predominant and, although partially self-compatible, it requires pollinators. The main pollinators are flies, such as Episyrphus sp., Chrysomyia megacephaia, Apis cerana, Sycanus croceus, and Delta conoideum. The floral characteristics, flowering phenology, and breeding system of T. franchetii provide some reproductive assurance and evolutionary potential for its ability to adapt to the complex and extremely harsh environment of dry-hot valleys; however, a favorable community environment contributes to the promotion of cross pollination of T. franchetii and more effective seed production; thus, promoting natural forest regeneration.