Malus sieversii is believed to be the primary ancestor of the domesticated apple. The species is native to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (Lamboy et al. 1998). It also extends into China where pure stands of the species occur in the Ili River Valley in the western part of the Tianshan Mts. and on hillsides in western Junggar (National Environment Protection Bureau 1987, Li-kuo and Jian-ming 1992). Occurs between 1,100 and 1,600 m.