It is also found in some countries in the Balkans, especially in Albanian, Macedonian and Bulgarian regions, and in western parts of Caucasian Georgia.

[1] Mespilus forms deciduous large shrubs to small trees growing up to 8 m (26 ft) tall.

Mespilus germanica is apparently native only to southwest Asia and southeastern Europe, i.e. near the Black Sea coast and western Mediterranean, and Asia Minor, as well as the Caucasus and northern Iran, but it has an ancient history of cultivation and wild plants exist in a much wider area; it was grown by the ancient Greeks and Romans, beginning in the second century BC.

In southern Europe, the medlar fruit ripen fully and can be eaten off the tree, but in northern climates, they require bletting to eat.

Many cultivars exist, and they are increasingly popular selections carried by perennial and edible landscaping nurseries in North America.