'Black Gold' snake plant guide

Dracaena trifasciata 'Black Gold', also called Sansevieria 'Black Gold', 'Black Gold Superba'

Published 2026-11-08

Quick care

Light: Low
Water: When the soil is dry all the way down
Humidity: Dry room air is fine
Temperature: 15 to 29°C (60 to 85°F). Keep above 10°C (50°F).
Soil: Cactus and succulent mix
Feeding: Half-strength fertilizer two or three times in spring and summer
Pets: Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if chewed
Difficulty: Easy
Mature size: Leaves 60 to 120 cm (2 to 4 ft) tall
Propagation: Division or leaf cuttings
Where to buy: Common

This page covers what makes 'Black Gold' snake plant different. For light, water, soil, pests, and the rest, read the snake plant care guide.

What it is

‘Black Gold’ is a tall snake plant with dark, near-black green leaves and narrow, bright gold edges. Select-A-Plant describes it as bicolor, dark green with bright yellow edges. It grows 60 cm to 1.2 m (2 to 4 ft) tall. The dark center makes the gold edge stand out more than on ‘Laurentii’.

How to tell it apart

Plant	Leaves	The tell
‘Black Gold’	Near-black green, thin gold edges	Dark leaves with faint banding
‘Laurentii’ snake plant	Banded gray-green, wide yellow edges	Lighter leaves and bolder bands
‘Black Jack’	Green-black, greenish-yellow edges	Edges look more lime than gold

Care differences

Care is the same as any snake plant. The dark leaves handle low light well. In bright indirect light, the gold edges stay crisp.

Keeping the gold

Like ‘Laurentii’, leaf cuttings of ‘Black Gold’ often grow pups with no gold edges. Divide the plant to keep the pattern.

Grow it by division

Slide it out of the pot and cut the rhizome into pieces, each with leaves and roots. Let the cuts dry for a day, pot them up, and wait a week to water.

Buying it

‘Black Gold’ is common at garden centers and big box stores. Look for tall, firm leaves with clear gold edges. Plants labeled ‘Black Gold Superba’ are often shorter and wider. Both are good choices.