Question
Don't know the type, but it had small white flowers with a strong fragrance to it.  As I recall I cut it back at the end of the season after it had been done blooming (usually it bloomed in July or August) but probably before the last frost.  

It is growing so wild again; can I trim the top vines?  There is nowhere for them to grow except onto or under the roof of the porch.  I've stopped fertilizing it.  Thanks.-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
Eight years ago we planted a honeysuckle vine.  Last year it was so bushy and overgrown that I cut it back to about one foot.  This year it has grown like crazy but won't bloom.  I assume it's spending all it's energy making more leaves (I don't want more leaves, I want it to stay contained on the vine and just bloom).

Does trimming the edges cause it to just grow bushier?  Now that it's reached the top of the porch it just wants to grow along the roof line.  How do I keep it contained?  How do I get it to bloom?

We live in Colorado and it seems to like the location...southern exposure with lots of light.  I fertilize occasionally but not with regularity.  Please help!  Thanks.

Answer -
Hi Conni, Do you know what kind of honeysuckle you planted there in Colorado?  Can you describe it if not?  What color are the flowers, when do they bloom, is there a fragrance (light or very strong)?

What time of year did you do your cutting back - just before the first frost, just after the last frost, mid-summer etc?  Was it blooming when you did that?

rsvp!

Answer
Lonicera Halliana - IF this is in fact what you are growing (white flowers, strong fragrance, heavenly) - loves lots of sun and grows like crazy thanks to its humble weed pedigree.  Or maybe you are growing Etruscan Honeysuckle (L. etrusca), Common Honeysuckle (L. periclymenum), even Italian Honeysuckle (L. caprifolium), which blooms August through September.  All can reach 10 to 20 feet at maturity and are hardy to Zone 5.

Winter Honeysuckle (L. fragrantissima) blooms in spring - so I guess we can scratch Winter.  Gold Flame Honeysuckle (L. x heckrottii) blooms May, June, July, August, September - but it's orange.  Scratch Gold Flame.

If your Colorado Zone is colder, this may be borderline for you - but most certainly worth the wait.  Root damage and sparse buds will both benefit from dosage of Phosphorous - the middle number in the N-P-K formula posted on packages of plant fertilizers.  

The "P" number should be the highest of the three numbers.  Or you can CAREFULLY apply a dose of Triple Superphosphate.  Avoid additional applications of Nitrogen, which will only give you more leaves and frustration.

Some Honeysuckles are woodland plants and would not thrive in bright sun.  Since you're trimming anyway, you can take cuttings very easily and root them; when they are old enough to transplant, place them in one of the areas that has no Honeysuckle, and see how they grow.  

Too much light stressing a plant will inhibit blooms, but that will only be the explanation if you have a Honeysuckle that prefers deep shade.  Your rooted cuttings will let you know.

Otherwise, these are trouble-free plants.  They won't win any beauty contests; you won't find anyone judging tables of Honeysuckle in bloom; but for fragrance, they always appear on Top 10 Favorites.  If you boost the Phosphorous and stay away from Nitrogen, and figure out their favorite dose of sun, I have no doubt you will walk past it one day and recognize that sweet, delicious Honeysuckle perfume once again.