@jjkOC zone 10a/22, SoCal, yes I agree it looks different. Here is my Bring Me Sunshine, first year rose

Thanks for sharing Elena. Yes! I was expecting more like a CPM coloration. Yours is lovely!

Just my two cents, but there's always a bit of variance in the coloration of the first set of blooms vs. later blooms as the rose matures. I'd send some pictures to Otto and Sons and ask them if this is the case here, I think they'd likely agree. If you search for videos of this rose, you'll see a wide variance of color from yellow, transitioning to that clementine orange color you expect.

I know you are rightly disappointed but I love that light lemony yellow with the button eye! So adorable. I hope someone can identify it so I can get one. Does it have a fragrance?

The shape looks different for me too.

I think the shape is OK and the color indeed pale but still within BMS coloring in hot weather. I grew Bring Me Sunshine for 1 year. Does it have myrhh/anise scent ? I sure hope it is correct, I think you would have to drive back to Otto to exchange it, yikes.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6279508/bring-me-sunshine-pics

@sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish) and @BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14) the fragrance wasn't apparent on the fully open flower. I will check out a new one that is opening tomorrow!

As for color; I know some Austins get pale with hot sun, but this is too much! It’s been in the upper 60’s to low 70’s here!

Oh no !! what a bummer if its not correct .

imogen is a little like a water lily ..

my bring me sunshine hasnnt bloomed pr my country parson either .. i would def call and see if they can help you in some way

Also imogen only lasts a couple days

The left rose is Lichfield Angel

mislabeled and agree with Lilyfinch on Imogen, I have never seen a button eye on my bring me sunshine (2nd year in my garden). Mine always shows the cupped blooms displayed by Elena's picture. I love both roses and I a m sure David Austin will make it right by replacing or refunding you while letting you keep the likely Imogen.

JjkOC.... looks just like my BMS. Blooms begin cupped and golden. Then flatten out and fade. The fragrance can be strong spicy myrhh to my nose, real nice. I had some blooms with button eye. Heck maybe mine is wrong too but what I received as BMS from DA is nice and grew to 4ft first year from bare root! I'll take it! Have a good day. John

@john_z6_oh I’d read that DA Yellows tend to fade a lot, but the thing is none of the flowers on the bush opened that dark yellow at all, which is why I grew suspicious of the label.

I dispatched an email to Otto&Sons, since they are closed until Wednesday. Hopefully, I can get to the bottom of this soon!

@jjkOC zone 10a/22, SoCal - I agree with Ben and knightsgambit that it is still within the color range of BMS and you definitely can get color variation when the rose is young amongst other reasons. BMS fades for me too. The shape looks correct as it always had well organized blooms with a button eye. It is definitely not The Country Parson. If not BMS, Thr Pilgrim looks similar in color but does not always have a button eye or well organized bloom.

The Pilgrim

This is a lighter bloom on my Bring Me Sunshine. Some are light, most start a golden yellow. The definite tell is the myrrh fragrance.

@dianela7analabama, @Sunny Mississippi 8a, @BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14), @knightsgambit, and @Dave5bWY etal.

The colors being described for your BMS make me wonder if the color for this rose will actually ever start off saturated like the advertised images. I feel a bit misled by DA.

I heard back from Otto & Sons this morning. They shared that this is their first time carrying BMS. All of the BMS roses in their inventory are opening up like mine, and the DA representative who visited onsite Thursday indicated that the flower ID was correct.

I’m not sure I‘ll be a fan of this variety if the color is not going to start off a rich warm yellow like GC.

For those who are growing it, have you seen any other advantages of this plant compared to other yellow DA roses?

I think what you have is most likely correct. I don’t have it, but recall a lot of harrumphing in the UK when it was first released and the colouring was a disappointing yellow. Nothing like the egg yolk/orangey tones described and pictured on the website. It seems to take a little time to develop those richer tones.

@NollieSpainZ9, I can imagine the harrumphing of British growers… this is such a great word to describe how I feel! I really was looking forward to golden egg yolk yellow!

The question I would love to have answered is whether those rich tones ever will develop here. Time will tell...

I’ve always given roses the benefit of the doubt, giving them a good trial over a handful of years before deciding to expel them from the garden.

I’m just very disappointed that the color is SO very bland compared to the advertised image!

Harrumphing and muttering are national sports for us Brits!

Early blooms are so often atypical, I feel sure it will improve and develop richer tones with maturity for you. Perhaps not as much as in cooler climates, but you never know. Hang in there!

@NollieSpainZ9 Hahahahaha! Thanks for the laughs and the encouragement.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your opinions, thoughts and help!

@jjkOC zone 10a/22, SoCal give it a few years. I know that sounds like a long time, but ive found with better vigor from a larger rose, the ”true” color of the rose will show up eventually. Munstead Wood was a deep pink, Jude The Obscure was almost white as well. As the rose matured, I got the desired color.

A commenter on helpmefind did say the color doesn't last in the sun but there are also two posters who provided pictures with the desired color. Rosegeek also provided some pictures as well as a link to her youtube video of her visit to the DA gardens. My guess is that it's a combination of both age and heat.

Hmmm, I feel lucky, that I have the right color for BMS.

@knightsgambit, it’s very true what you wrote; I remember MW initially having a more magenta flower rather than the deep crimson it has now. I’ll see how the color on BMS develops over time.

It’s been said that disappointment builds character and patience is a virtue… I guess BMS will be a character building exercise toward virtuousness! ;P

@elenazone6, Time to buy a lotto ticket!!! ;)