The title compound (1, trivial name: 9 (or 3)-nitrocytisine) crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. In its structure two rings form a bispidine framework that is fused to a 3-nitro-2-pyridone group. The half-normal probability plot reveals that the two molecules do not show any significant geometrical differences, except in conformations of the nitro-group, which is involved in intermolecular interactions. The crystal packing structure of the title compound is described in terms of three-dimensional supramolecular arrays built up from chains of N-H-O (nitro-group), hydrogen bonds and weak intermolecular C- H O=C interactions, with graph-set descriptors C²2(6) and C²2(JQ) motifs, which together result in R(4)4(26) rings motifs. These chains are additionally stabilized by intermolecular NO2 π interactions.