The spreading cotoneaster is named for its habit. The overall appearance of the plant is rounded with arching branches. Spreading cotoneaster can make a fine-textured formal hedge and takes well to clipping. Its rosy-pink flowers, produced in late May, are often hidden by the leaves. Red fruits ripen in late summer and persist into late fall. Fall color can be a good red. This species is native to China.

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.