Now that my rain barrels are full (from the recent rain) and temperatures are lower, it is the perfect time to add some shrubs and trees to my garden.

The garden in winter offers subtle beauty, with blooms, bark, berries and interesting forms. This is the season when we can appreciate deciduous trees and a few shrubs for more than just their foliage. Once they shed their leaves, we begin to notice their form and structure. Some, like Harry Lauder's walking stick, Corylus avellana 'Contorta,' with its twisted branches and catkins, create dramatic silhouettes, while others offer colorful, exfoliating bark. Still others, like the Winter King hawthorn, Crataegus viridis 'Winter King,' display brilliant red berries that persist until spring and, as the tree matures, the bark begins to peel to expose patches of orange and brown. It's worth noting that once established, 'Winter King' is fairly drought-tolerant and will grow happily in both city and country gardens.

Erica Glasener / Special (ENLARGE)

Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' displays brilliant red berries that persist until spring. As the tree matures, the bark begins to peel.

Erica Glasener / Special (ENLARGE)

Heptacodium miconioides, or Seven Son Flower, has tan and brown peeling bark in winter.

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River birch, in particular Betula nigra 'Dura Heat,' offers fantastic bark year-round that is showy even on young trees in shades of salmon, brown, cinnamon and white. And, as the name implies, it is more heat-tolerant and resistant to insect and disease problems associated with birch trees. Make sure that you site river birch in full sun where it has plenty of room to grow, as mature trees can easily reach 40 feet to 50 feet high and 20 feet to 30 feet wide. If you like the look of river birch but have a small garden, you may want to try Betula nigra 'Little King.' This small tree reaches only 10 feet to 12 feet high and 12 feet wide. With an oval to rounded habit, it makes a choice specimen or small hedge.

Parrotia persica, Persian ironwood, is a medium-sized tree that appeals to me in every season. As a mature tree, it develops showy peeling bark. Its witch hazel-like foliage (it is a member of the same family Hamamelis belongs to) is green all summer and yellow in the autumn.

A standout for its shiny cinnamon bark is the paperbark maple, Acer griseum.

Recently I spoke with Jane Bath, garden designer and owner of Land Arts Nursery in Monroe, about some of her favorite trees for beautiful structure and colorful bark. One of the first trees she mentioned was sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, for its fantastic mottled bark of white, brown and gray. She says that if you have the space (plant it away from your house), it is hard to beat for beautiful bark. She also likes the structure of saucer magnolias like Magnolia x 'Ann' and x 'Jane.' Their fuzzy tapered buds and branching habit make them interesting sculptures in the winter landscape. For four seasons of interest, Jane likes Japanese maples.

She also likes the native ironwood, Carpinus caroliniana; the winged elm, Ulmus alata; and crape myrtles — if, she stresses, they are properly pruned.

Other favorites of mine for their bark include Stewartia pseudocamellia, Japanese stewartia, with colorful mottled bark; and Stewartia monadelpha, tall stewartia, with dark cinnamon bark. Although I don't typically think of conifers for their bark, the lacebark pine, Pinus bungeana, is an exception, displaying a striking patchwork of green, gray and brown. Heptacodium miconioides, Seven Son Flower, is an unusual large shrub or small tree worth seeking for its fragrant white flowers in late summer to fall and attractive tan and brown peeling bark in winter.

A few favorites at McMahan's Nursery in Gainesville include Cornus kousa 'Blue Shadow,' Cornus mas 'Spring Glow' and Clethra barbinervis.

Now that winter is here, look around and discover your own favorites with fantastic forms and attractive bark, and then get out there and plant.

ERICA'S PICK: Paperbark maple

Botanical name: Acer griseum

About the plant: Paperbark maple is aptly named for its glistening cinnamon bark that peels off the trunk and branches. The handsome rich green foliage turns shades of bright red and orange in fall. This small tree reaches 20 feet to 30 feet at maturity.

Use in the garden: Use this tree as a specimen or an accent. Plant it against a backdrop of evergreens to help highlight its bark. Underplant it with a green carpet of hellebores and ferns.

Planting and care: Paperbark maple likes a moist, well-drained soil. Plant it in full sun or part shade.

Source: Land Arts Nursery, 809 N. Broad St., Monroe, GA 30656; 770-267-4500.

Erica Glasener is an Atlanta horticulturist and host of HGTV's "A Gardener's Diary." Check HGTV.com for current schedule. Her column on landscape design appears biweekly. Write to her in care of AJC, P.O. Box 4689, Atlanta, GA 30302.