The APS registry classifies Peony “Sonoma Welcome” as a single, light yellow peony.

In our experience it can be more complicated than that. Here’s what we’ve seen in our fields:

In 2022, Sonoma Welcome

• opened apricot with a yellow cast

• faded to a light yellow with an apricot cast

• with flowers ranging for fuller-than-normal singles to semi-double

(See images 1-4 for how Sonoma Welcome looked in 2022)

In 2023, Sonoma Welcome

• produced initial blooms very similar to those in 2022

• produced a second set of blooms that opened a saturated warm yellow with hints of apricot. These blooms faded very little.

• all blooms were very full, perhaps closer to semi-double

(See image 5-8 to see how the color variation produced in 2023).

In 2023 I almost had concerns that the (very reliable) farm from which we’d purchased Sonoma Welcome had sent us the incorrect variety. However, after reviewing pictures from multiple reliable sources I quickly recognized similar variations occurring in other people’s gardens as well.

The bush is dimunitive - less than 3’ for us - but with generously sized flowers, making it perfect for the front of a border. Once mature Sonoma Welcome will produce a large number of flowers.

Sonoma Welcome is an intriguing peony. If desiging with Sonoma Welcome, you might consider locations that can accomodate this plant’s many faces Then sit back and prepare to be amazed each year as it puts on its fantastic show.