The creeping cotoneaster is a dwarf shrub that grows to only 12 or 18 inches, but it can spread up to 5 or 6 feet. Where branches touch the ground, they'll take root.  The flowers, which are borne singly or in pairs, are pink with a white tip; they bloom in May to June. The fruit is a dark red pome, 1/4 inch in diameter; it is produced in midsummer and retained through late fall. The creeping cotoneaster has attractive pink flowers in spring, which give way to striking red fruits that contrast with its glossy green leaves. Autumn brings red foliage, so this shrub provides three seasons of interest. It is one of the most fruitful cotoneasters.

Members of the genus Cotoneaster are characterized by a stiff, dense branching structure; small, glossy leaves of fine texture, and abundant fruit in the form of small pomes, which are generally in shades of red/orange but may also be cream or black and may persist into winter. Generally unfussy about soil pH, cotoneasters are reliable and durable shrubs often used as hedges or groundcovers.

The genus Cotoneaster includes at least 90 species of shrubs native to the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, with a concentration in western China. There are no cotoneasters native to the U.S. though a number of species and their hybrids and cultivars flourish in the northern U.S. and Canada. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collections contain almost 20 species among nearly 30 varieties and more than 2,500 individual plants.