A　simple,　low-temperature　synthesis　approach　is　reported　for　planting　CdS-sensitized　1D　ZnO　nanorod　arrays　on　the　2D　graphene　(GR)　sheet　to　obtain　the　ternary　hierarchical　nanostructures,　during　which　graphene　oxide　(GO)　as　the　precursor　of　GR　acts　as　a　flexible　substrate　for　the　formation　of　ZnO　nanorod　arrays.　The　hierarchical　CdS-1D　ZnO-2D　GR　hybrids　can　serve　as　an　efficient　visible-light-driven　photocatalyst　for　selective　organic　transformations.　The　fast　electron　transport　of　1D　ZnO　nanorods,　the　well-known　electronic　conductivity　of　2D　GR,　the　intense　visible-light　absorption　of　CdS,　the　unique　hierarchical　structure,　and　the　matched　energy　levels　of　CdS,　ZnO　and　GR　efficiently　boost　the　photogenerated　charge　carriers　separation　and　transfer　across　the　interfacial　domain　of　hierarchical　CdS-1D　ZnO-2D　GR　hybrids　under　visible　light　irradiation　via　three-level　electron　transfer　process.　Furthermore,　the　superior　reusability　of　ternary　hybrids　is　achieved　by　controlling　the　reaction　parameters,　i.e.,　using　visible　light　irradiation　and　holes　scavenger　to　prevent　ZnO　and　CdS　from　photocorrosion.　This　work　demonstrates　a　facile　way　of　fabricating　hierarchical　CdS-1D　ZnO-2D　GR　hybrids　in　a　controlled　manner　and　highlights　a　promising　scope　of　adopting　integrative　photosensitization　and　co-catalyst　strategy　to　design　more　efficient　semiconductor-based　composite　photocatalysts　toward　solar　energy　capture　and　conversion.　©　2014　Wiley-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA.