An actinomycete, strain I06-2230(T), was isolated from rhizosphere soil of the plant Cephalotaxus fortunei, collected from Yunnan province, south China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Actinopolymorpha. Cells grew on agar surfaces, with no penetration even after prolonged cultivation. Aerial hyphae were absent. Cells were irregularly shaped and remained attached as chains or aggregates. Chemotaxonomic data, which showed ll-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, glucose as the whole-cell sugar, type PI phospholipids and MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone, supported the affiliation of strain I06-2230(T) to the genus Actinopolymorpha. The major fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(16 : 0) and iso-C(16 : 1) H. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.3 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization data, in combination with chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical data, demonstrated that strain I06-2230(T) should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Actinopolymorpha. The name Actinopolymorpha cephalotaxi sp. nov. is proposed, with strain I06-2230(T) (=DSM 45117(T)=CCM 7466(T)=KCTC 19293(T)) as the type strain.