In the title compound, C14H16N2O3, an analog of the chromophore in green fluorescent protein, the meth-oxy-phenyl substituent and the imidazole N adopt a Z conformation with respect to the C=C bond. Aside from the hy-droxy-ethyl group, the mol-ecule is approximately planar, with the five- and six-membered ring planes forming a dihedral angle of 9.3 (1)°. An intra-molecular C-H⋯N contact occurs. In the crystal, O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules, forming chains along the b-axis direction. C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are also observed.