An iconic feature of Melbourne’s inner south-east is under threat.

Five palm trees on Beaconsfield Parade have contracted a fusarium wilt disease — a highly contagious fungal disease — and must be removed, and as many as 40 other trees could also be impacted.

Port Phillip Council is testing 40 other trees in the area and botanist Dr Greg Moore says “they will have dodged a bullet” if only five need removal.

Press PLAY below to hear the outlook for the trees

The trees can’t be replaced with the same species because the fungal disease lives in soil and groundwater and will reinfect them.

Image: Google Maps