The directionally solidified (DS) Nb–22Ti–16Si–7Cr–3Al–3Ta–2Hf–0.1Ho (at.%) alloy was fabricated by using optical floating zone (OFZ) melting technique. Microstructural characteristics and high temperature compressive properties at 1623K of the alloy were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and compressive tests. The DS microstructure exhibits an obvious cell structure and strong orientations of (Nb, Ti)ss (110) and (Nb, Ti) 5 Si 3 (310) along the growth direction. No definite crystallographic orientation relationship either between (Nb, Ti) 5 Si 3 and (Nb, Ti)ss or (Ti, Nb) 5 Si 3 and (Nb, Ti)ss was found. The interfaces between silicides and (Nb, Ti)ss are clean, but not straight and sharp. The high temperature compressive behavior of the DS alloy is superior to that of the conventional cast (CC) alloy at 1623K.