We have demonstrated the synthesis of nanostructured CdIn 2 S 4 with a fascinating 'marigold flower' morphology using a hydrothermal method, and mixed morphologies (flowers, spheres and pyramids) using a microwave method. In the microwave synthesis, the product was formed within 15 min, whereas by the hydrothermal method more than 24 h was required. In the microwave method, various capping agents were used that result in different particle morphologies. Hydrothermal formation of crystalline CdIn 2 S 4 nanotubes in methanol showed a significant effect of reaction medium on morphology. Synthesis of these crystalline CdIn 2 S 4 nanopyramids and 'marigold flowers' has also been demonstrated using microwave synthesis for the first time. An XRD study showed a cubic spinel structure for CdIn 2 S 4 prepared by both methods. The band gap for CdIn 2 S 4 was 2.27 eV when synthesized using the microwave method, and 2.23 eV using the hydrothermal method, implying that the microwave method produces a lower particle size than the hydrothermal method. A noteworthy aspect of this work is that we obtained novel ternary chalcogenide hierarchical nanostructures by simple hydrothermal and microwave methods. Considering that the band gap of the hierarchical CdIn 2 S 4 is within the visible region, we compared its ability to photocatalytically degrade methylene blue (MB) with that of CdS. The marigold flowers, nanoparticle spheres and nanopyramids of CdIn 2 S 4 synthesised by microwave method gave almost 30% enhancement in the degradation of MB as compared to CdS under direct sunlight. This is of importance, considering that CdIn 2 S 4 has potential for applications in solar energy conversion and opto-electronic devices.