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Rather liked this close up of Chocolate Vine, but it is flowering very early.

 ;) What a lovely picture Eric unusual plant, never seen one before :)

Palustris, did you buy it as a plant or grow it from seed? If you grew it from seed, could you give me a few tips? I tried to grow one last year, planted 6 seeds, put them in the fridge in plastic bags for the recommended time then transferred them to the cold-frame. Not one germinated, I was so disappointed!  :( Beautiful photo though, lucky you!  ;D  

He did me a rooted cutting last week - fingers crossed it grows.

Now I shall have to race down the garden tomorrow to see if mine is flowering yet!  Great photo Eric!

lovely looking flower. does it smell of chocolate?

I bought the plant, but cannot remember where. I will attempt to get some more layers to root. It has never set seed to my knowledge. There is no discernable scent to my nostrils.

That is beautiful Eric.  Wonder why it is called 'chocolate vine'  ???

Hex, do you think I could borrow him??  ;D ;)

It is gorgeous Eric, would rather fancy one of those in my little patch.  Trying to find a climber for a north facing damp fence and I don't want ivy.  Your chocolate vine though would need to be near the house to be admired.  Gorgeous!

I bought my seeds cos it apparently produces chocolate-flavoured sausage shaped fruits, but most importantly, its happy scrambling up a north wall! Having seen the pic, I'm going to give it another go!!

Sorry to disappoint you MrsFrog, but akebia can be quite a tender plant  - although it'll tolerate partial shade, it prefers full sun and a bit of shelter - and certainly full sun and a really good summer to produce the fruits (which as far as I'm aware aren't scented), so not really good for a north facing wall. It's the flowers that smell of chocolate - in fact, mine actually smell like After Eight Mints!
I bought my Akebia as a two-foot shrub after trying so many times to grow the seed. Best of luck!

Georgeous!  :D

Needs shelter. Tender. Flipping heck, well don't tell my plant, it is on a trellis which is stood in front of the polytunnel which admittedly protects it a little from the  North, but we get frost almost all the year round. In fact the water in the bird baths is frozen now.

I sit corrected, Palustris.  Though I'd suggest that your polytunnel is giving some serious protection (wouldn't mind one of 'em behind me right now as I caught a chill today). Either way, I'm delighted it can survive your frosty weather - just shows how well a plant can do when it's happy - and your photo is just stunning. By the way, my Akebia started flowered very early this year too.

liovely foto...sadly my akebia was too big to come with us when we moved in january...i miss it......