Spatial correlation of five-fold stacks of CdSe quantum dots inserted in ZnSSe spacers have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. Lateral and vertical ordering has been found depending on the spacer layer thickness. This can be interpreted as self-organized ordering process induced by lattice mismatch strain. Also, anisotropy of two-fold symmetry has been observed. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.