Can anyone recommend a good climber?

Could it have been Akebia quinata, Beata? Check this link:-

Buy chocolate vine Akebia quinata: Delivery by Crocus.co.uk

I love Wickhambreaux -I was in 'The Rose' just the other day!

 

these are supposed to smell like chocolate .... I've never seen one but have read loads of good reviews ... and a few bad (it is regarded as a pest in New Zealand)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pest_Plant_Accord

hence the reason I have not planted one (yet)

 

beautiful colour that akebia...

 

Many thanks Clare for the Akebia quinata suggestion. The plant in Wickhambreaux looked different, perhaps I go back there and take a photo :-) I can't believe you were in The Rose the other day! What a small world! I live nearby!

 

I think I just found the plant I was looking for! I think its chaenomeles japonica moned! Is this a good candidate to trail above my front door??

 

I love chaenomeles. It isn't a climber, but is often grown as a wall shrub, so you could certainly train one to grow around your front door. You would probably have to tie it in to some kind of support to keep it tidy. The plant blooms early in the year on bare wood, so you'd also have to be careful not to prune your potential flowers away. There are some lovely varieties around. I love 'Geisha Girl', which has double flowers in a lovely soft peachy colour. However, I have found that the fancier types are less hardy than the more basic varieties.