Rhododendron is one of the top ten Chinese flowers, with high ornamental values, and is deeply loved by people. The genus Rhododendron includes many species, with frequent natural hybridization between species and a high degree of horticultural development in some species. However, the inconsistency in cultivar naming has somewhat hindered the exchange of varieties between countries and regions. SSR markers have advantages in germplasm identification, genetic diversity analysis, and molecular marker-assisted breeding. Here, we reviewed the progress on SSR markers in the genus Rhododendron over the past 20 years, including the development methods of SSR markers in the genus, the number of markers（about 520 pairs for 5 subgenera）, the detection of primer versatility, and their application in species conservation, authenticity identification of hybrids, and trait-marker association analysis. Finally, we discussed the prospects for future applications of SSR markers on Rhododendrons, hoping this would be helpful in the conservation and genetic breeding of Rhododendron plants.