defoliating a cape honeysuckle?

[Sal]

Hello Folks,
Very happy to join this forum. I have been training a cape honeysuckle for a while and really enjoy it, although I struggle to keep the leaf size/internode length down. This species seems extremely hardy to me, so I was thinking of subjecting it to a round or two of defoliation. Anyone have any thoughts on this, for this species? Thanks in advance.
Sal

 

[JudyB]

I don't have that particular type of honeysuckle, but have some common types, that I have defoliated with success. They are hard to slow down... I'd go for it, unless you are trying to grow the trunk still. Then you should just let it grow, and worry about leaf size later on.