ZnO nanorods were grown on the $Cd_xZn_{1-x}O$ seed layers with various Cd mole fractions by hydrothermal method. The effects of the Cd mole fraction for $Cd_xZn_{1-x}O$ seed layers on the structural and optical properties of the ZnO nanorods were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence. The narrowest full-width at half-maximum and largest grain size of the $Cd_xZn_{1-x}O$ seed layers, indicating improvement in crystal quality, were observed at the Cd mole fraction of 0.5. At the Cd mole fraction of 0.5, the largest enhancement in the density, the crystal quality, and the growth rate of the ZnO nanorods was observed while their appearance was not affected significantly by the incorporation of the Cd in the $Cd_xZn_{1-x}O$ seed layers. Consequently, the luminescent properties of the ZnO nanorods were enhanced. The largest improvement in the structural and optical properties of the ZnO nanorods was observed at the Cd mole fraction of 0.5.