Dropmore blue is the smallest of the two you mention. Very easy care. Shear it back if it opens in the center. Here's one under the yellow marguerite, on the left. Libby

I'm not a big DSH expert even though I have one. But I suspect the dead wood in the spring might not have been dead. Maybe it thought you pruned it hard. My DSH was bought for me by my DH about 5 years ago and I had nowhere for a climber so I stuffed it in an overgrown bed next to the house where it duked it out with lily of the valley and irises until last week when I had to clean everything up for a garden tour. Having received no attention, fertilizer, support to climb on, water or anything it is very much alive and well, and I tracked down all its vines and put it up on a trellis. I wouldn't say mine has been a very fast grower either but like I said it has been in the most unforgiving conditions and it's definitely a survivor. I did notice when I was tracking its various parts down, that some of the wood looked dead but was alive.

Yes, it should bloom this spring for you, but a word of caution about this vine - it is a MAGNET for APHIDS - spray often, like every other day, with warm soapy water, alcohol and light vegetable oil to control them. You can also use Murphy's oil soap (alone) if you have it. Wash the soapy water off about 30 minutes after application with a garden hose.

I think that you can join the club of the mystery honeysuclke boutght three years ago. Did your's come in a box from Wal-Mart? Mine did and I know of one other person who bought this plant in a box. From what I can tell all three are alike. Mine is a bush, although small because I have moved it three times. The final time was the past week when it bloomed and I could not tell much difference in the color of the blooms and those of the Japanese honelysuckle. I hated to throw away a growing plant that I had bought so I just stuck it out in a flower bed and gave it a drink of water. The is not twining or scarlet about the plant I bought for a Lonicera Brownii "Dropmore Scarlet".