Abstract: A one-step hydrothermal route has been sucessfully developed to synthesize cubic ZnSe nanorods based on the reactions between Se powders, sodium hydroxide and zinc acetate coexisting with EDTA. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) have been used to characterize the ZnSe products. ZnSe nanorods about 40 nm to 70 nm in diameter and 360 nm to 460 nm in length were obtained at the conditions synthesis at 190 ℃ and 1.2 MPa. Mechanisms of formation are discussed and it is suggested that EDTA played a key role in the formation of nanorods as micelle like soft-templates. Hydrothermal method provides a simple and convenient method of synthesis for the preparation of ZnSe and other semiconducting nanorods.