Because it is such a hardy plant (can't kill it for sure) you can prune it all you want - even down to the nub - and it will grow back. Best time though is after it flowers so that new flowers will be lower on the vine next time, which would mean pruning in the fall when it finally finishes flowering. But, you can trim it to your liking anytime of the year to keep it within your prescribed bounds. It is not like Clematis as far as new growth vs. last year's if that is what you are worried about. Nancy the nancedar

Lonicera sempervirens, and all other twining vines, will climb better on vertical wires than horizontal. I would put a nice strong screw eye into the pole at a height of about 8 or ten feet, then drive stakes into the ground in an arc about 1 or 2 feet from the base of the pole. Slant the stakes away from the pole, and fasten wires from each stake to the screw eye on the pole. I would use braided wire rope instead of single strand wire because the braided rope will be a little rougher and thus easier fort he vine to climb. Plant the vine near the stakes, and it will climb the wires, hiding the pole. I would not try to go too far up the pole, because the power company is more likely to spray or cut the vine if it gets near the wires. I think you have a fair chance of keeping the vine if it isn't too tall and looks like you are maintaining it. I think Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) would be another very good choice, and could climb the pole unaided. It is an aggressive spreader, but as long as the area around the pole gets mowed, you don't have to worry about it spreading. Trumpet Creeper is a larger vine and blooms in late summer when more hummingbirds will be around instead of early summer, when hummingbirds are nesting and may not be present in a suburban area (if that is where you live)

I haven't heard of a white coral honeysuckle, so it will be interesting to hear if it continues with white blooms throughout the summer, and past this bloom season. I know that there's a yellow cultivar of Lonicera sempervirens ('John Clayton'- see link below), so it obviously does 'sport' away from the usual coral/orange-y colors. Hummingbirds will visit the Japanese honeysuckle, so I'm guessing they'll be okay with your mutant white flowers. I planted a 'Major Wheeler' and a 'Magnifica' last spring and they have yet to bloom, although they are vining... This spring I planted a species coral honeysuckle in between the other vines and it is outperforming the older cultivar plants and is ready to bloom already. By the time the hummers come back through here in late summer, I'm hoping all 3 plants will be blooming. Here is a link that might be useful: photo of 'John Clayton' honeysuckle

Woodsworm Well I just pruned mine back so when I saw your post I went to William Cullinas' Native Trees, Shrubs & Vines to check." You can liberally prune the vines in winter, which will delay flowering but usually will not prevent it, as blooms come from the short spurs on older stems first, then the tips of more vigourous new stems later in the season." ....."I like to leave the larger vines and just thin them out in late fall, pruning off some of the suckers from the base as well. I usually just prune to fit the space. Lovely, aren't they? The Hummingbirds love them. Pixie