Do you love the towering mountain ash, the world's tallest flowering tree, the exotic flavouring of quandongs or have a soft spot for a little-known local species?

To celebrate National Science Week, which kicks off next week, ABC Science have launched a nationwide poll to crown Australia's most loved species, and they're looking for your input.

“At last, trees are given the same respect as the birds that perch in them!” says Professor Tim Entwisle, botanist and Director and Chief Executive of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

“This is a celebration of the many roles native trees play in our lives – from home and habitat for wildlife through to the clean air and oxygen we all need to survive. Essential to life, and beautiful too.”

The ABC have long-listed 33 native species in consultation with horticulturalists to be contended across Australia.

Among the contenders are:

• Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)—native to Australia’s eastern coast
• Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)—found widely in the deserts in central and southern Australia
• Huon pine (Lagarstrobos franklinii)—from Tasmania’s rainforests and swamps
• Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor)—of south-west Western Australia
• Macadamia tree (Macadamia integrifolia)—growing naturally in the coastal rainforests of the QLD-NSW border region
• Mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans)—standing tall in forests of Victoria and Tasmania.

"We want Australians to get to know our endemic trees, because they're anything but Plane,” says ABC’s Dr Ann Jones. “We’d love people to take this opportunity to learn more about their local tree life and tell us their three favourites.”

Condobolin Landcare's National Tree Day event brought tree lovers together.

To help locals learn more about their local tree life, Condobolin Local Landcare Coordinator, Sarah White, held a National Tree Day Event in which 270 locally grown native tree and shrub seedlings were given to members of the public.

"A number of nesting boxes were also made available as well as biodiversity resources and take-home activities for the kids," said Mrs White.

Some of the species included Blakely's red gum, Kurrajong, Lemon Scented Gum, Silver Banksia, Yellow Box and Crimson Mallee.

To help locals identify which species will suit their area, Jasmine Wells from Central West Local Land Services said that "we need to take into consideration a number of factors such as the vegetation type, land usage, rainfall, soil type and chemical constraints such as PH and salinity."

"You also need to consider what they might be trying to encourage," she said.

"If it is birds, mammals and reptiles then I would look to find plants with more pollen or if it is for wind protection, forage, shade and remediation then the list is different again."

Free trees anyone? Lachlan shire locals lined up to plant their favourite plants.

Science ABC's National Poll opened on Monday 1 August, and a shortlist of 10 finalists will be announced tomorrow Friday 12 August, with the winner to be crowned on Friday August 26 on Radio National and Gardening Australia.

To cast your vote visit www.abc.net.au/trees

To find out more about your local tree life, contact your local Landcare coordinator.