Many-flowered cotoneaster, a native of China, is one of the largest cotoneasters, growing to ten feet tall with cascading branches. It has simple ovate leaves about two inches long that are green with a hint of blue. In May these shrubs are covered with clusters of wide-open, five-petaled white flowers, each measuring about 1/2 inch across. These develop into bright red fruit that put on a good display by fall. Many-flowered cotoneaster is an attreactive shrub and birds relish the fruits, which are like little apples. Unfortunately, the dropped fruit may sprout, so the species has a reputation as being somewhat invasive. It would not be a good choice near a wooded area.

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.