I planted a melothria scabra from seed in a medium size pot with ordinary potting soil. I put it in a spot that got sun in the morning and more shade in the after noon. The seedling started off a little slow, but once it began vining it grew very fast since I planted it in July and it is now reaching about 20 ft across a string I put up for it. Most of the first fruits it put out didn't get a start since the male flowers came out way earlier than the fruit bearing ones, but I finally have a cucumber that's over a half an inch long and a lot more little ones following. Can't wait to try them.

If it's a Hydrangea petiolaris, which it does look like, it's not a native but usually highly regarded (and expensive) landscape plant that takes a few years to establish before it will put on its' show of flowers. Hopefully you'll get another confirmation or two on that ID. It's been years since I moved away from mine. This one sounds like it's been there for a while, so the flowers are probably being ruined by badly-timed pruning (if one wants to see the flowers.) I say badly-timed because this vine blooms on old wood, meaning growth from the previous year. The best time to trim, for seeing flowers, would be right after the blooms fade. The growth that is left and that which forms during the rest of that year will have the next years' buds on it. Hope that makes sense. If possible, moving it to the base of a mature tree or other dedicated support structure would be best if possible. Then trimming could be eliminated entirely, except to guide or remove stray stems. Here is a link that might be useful: Some pics to give you an idea what this vine can do

I have my BGV in a pot in part sun. It died back in my chilly greenhouse over winter....then came back stron. My friend left hers in the ground and it came back just as strongly. Or course, it was a mild winter. I know they want some sun but not full sun. I love the flowers. Mine is a deep dark blue. c

I mean it has to be a Coral Tree, but with the spikes, what cultivar I wonder?Once the base began swelling, I knew that it was something different, but I do not want to completely rule out a vine. With the leaf structure being almost identical, I believe that all is narrowed down now.