In this article data of a long-term research of the main regularities of distribution of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Pb, Cd) in plants of dry-steppe zone of the East Kazakhstan region are described. The field under study is of considerable scientific significance, as it includes the former nuclear plant of Semipalatinsk, as well as the protected area of the Abai Museum-Reserve. Zone typical plants of a steppe and desert-steppe zone were investigated; all 100 tests of plants, 18 views from 6 families were studied. It is shown that the wild vegetation of the study region contains much higher amounts of lead than cobalt. A significant scatter in the content of heavy metals in wild plants is characteristic. The maximum change in heavy metals is observed in cadmium (72%) and manganese (62%), the minimum change in zinc (25%). For the researched region by the level of biological absorption by plants, copper, manganese, cobalt, lead belong to the group of elements of average absorption; zinc, cadmium - to a group of elements of intense absorption. For zinc a basipetal distribution in various parts of plants is shown, and for copper and manganese an acropetal distribution in various parts of plants is revealed. Cobalt, lead and cadmium are characterized by the greatest accumulation in the roots of plants, while the content of these heavy metals in plant stems is minimal. © 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.