This spell turns an oak tree into a protector or guardian. The spell can be cast on only a single tree at a time; while liveoak is in effect, the character can’t cast it again on another tree. The tree on which the spell is cast must be within 10 feet of the character's dwelling place, within a place sacred to the character, or within 300 feet of something that the character wishes to guard or protect.

Liveoak must be cast on a healthy, Huge oak. A triggering phrase of up to one word per caster level is placed on the targeted oak. For instance, "Attack any persons who come near without first saying ‘sacred mistletoe’" is an eleven-word trigger phrase that the character could use at 11th level or higher. The liveoak spell triggers the tree into animating as a treant. Statistics for a treant can be found in the Monster Manual. (At the DM’s option, the character can extrapolate stats for a smaller tree from the treant statistics if the character cast liveoak on a smaller oak.)

If liveoak is dispelled, the tree takes root immediately, wherever it happens to be. If released by the character, it tries to return to its original location before taking root.