We demonstrated photoluminescence (PL) enhancement in single carbon nanotubes using localized surface plasmons. Single nanotube spectroscopy revealed triple the PL intensity enhancement for carbon nanotubes on rough Au surfaces as on fused silica surfaces. The PL enhancement depends on the excitation wavelength and distance between the carbon nanotubes and the Au surface. The degree of PL enhancement is determined by the electric field enhancement from the localized surface plasmon and the energy transfer from the carbon nanotube to the metal surface. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3467834]