ZnSe, ZnSe:Ho³⁺, Mg_xZn_1-xSe and Mg_xZn_1-xSe:Ho³⁺ crystals were grown by the chemical transport reaction method. The crystal structures and optical energy band gaps of the single crystals were investigated. Their photoluminescence(PL) spectra were measured at 10 [K]. Sharp emission peaks in the blue-green wavelength range and broad emission peaks in the yellow-red wavelength range were observed. The single crystals doped with 1.0 [mol%] of holmium did not show the sharp emission peaks because of defects which were thought to be originated to the holmium dopant.