Electron paramagnetic resonance of Cu2--doped catena-trans-bis(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediamine) zinc(II)-tetra-p.-cyanonicelate(II) [Zn(NH2(CH2)3NHOH)2Ni(CN)4 ] single crystals and powder are examined at room temperature. The spectra show the substitution of the Zn 2 § ion with the Cu :+ ion. The crystal field around the Cu 2+ ion is nearly axial. There is a single paramagnetic site with g.~, = 2.073, gyr = 2.060, gz.-= 2.248, A~, = 40.5 G, A. = 50.8 G, A= = 172.0 G. The groundstate wave function is an admixture of dx~_y-, and di-, states. The optical-absorption studies show two bands at 320 nm (31250 cm -~) and 614 nm (16286 cm-t), which confirm the axial symmetry. The crystal field parameters and the wave function are determined.