(1362-30), pl. X. Flower to nearly 5¼ inches (13 cm) across. Petals moderately broad, gently recurved and ruffled, russet-yellow with prominent pure light yellow midrib; sepals yellowish, with broad greyish midstripe that contrasts strongly to color of petals. Filaments mostly deep yellow. Throat-circle waxy light yellow. Stigma and throat green. Stem globular, clean in appearance, to 3½ inches (9 cm) in diameter, forming attractive mounds when offsetting; spines very short, to ⅛ inch (3 mm) in length.
The name of this hybrid is derived from the beautiful song, “The Hills of Home” by Oscar J. Fox, familiar to people of my generation (we old-timers) as sung by the baritone Nelson Eddy. It is about a person longing for the homeland of his childhood. The song, however, does not reflect any nostalgia for this hybrid, but alludes to the appearance of the plant’s handsome short-spined globular stem and pups, which appear like rounded hills. HBG 87027. Rooted offsets $9.50.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 74 (2), March - April, 2002