CdSe nanorods are synthesized via a simple solvothermal method at a moderate temperature of 180 degrees C. The influences of introducing hydrazine hydrate (N2H4 center dot H2O) as the reducing agent, and ammonia (NH3 center dot H2O) as the complexing agent and also the reaction temperature, on the morphology and size of the obtained CdSe nanorods are investigated and reported. CdSe nanorods with a mean diameter and length of 25 and 82 nm, respectively, are synthesized and the problem of handling the stacking faults present in the long CdSe nanorods is analyzed. The use of increased quantity of hydrazine hydrate and also prolonged reaction time is found to reduce the stacking faults on the synthesized nanorods. The morphology, phase and the optical properties of CdSe nanoparticles are studied using powder X-ray diffraction, TEM and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The low-resolution TEM images confirm the formation of CdSe nanorods, and also the agglomeration of nanoparticles and the presence of few spherical nanoparticles. The strong PL intensity from the CdSe nanorod at 702 nm confirms a blue shift of 14 nm, when compared with the bulk wurtzite CdSe. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.