CdSe colloidal nanowires, generated from solution-liquid-solid approach, have been coated with CdS rods (or ribbons) by using cadmium hexadecyl xanthate (Cd-HDX) as a single source precursor. The use of different solvents and ligands causes pronounced effects on the morphology of the nanowires. The coating process includes nucleation and growth of CdS nanorods onto the core CdSe nanowires, followed by ripening of the CdS nanorods to produce the desired core-shell nanowire structure.