Alternative to banana for banana circle in Midwest of USA

I'm reaching out to those who have actually planted alternative trees in a banana circle in non-tropical climates.

I live in northwest Missouri (USA) on the border of Zone 5/6. We get a good amount of rain, the peak of our summers are hot and humid and our winter is cold enough where tropicals won't survive. I'm considering pawpaw (asimina triloba, not papaya) for a banana circle but would like to know if anyone else has tried an alternative in the Midwest and found that it worked. Or know of someone who did.

Try planting in pots, in fairly large sizes. When new shoots come up, you can transplant to other pots.
In wintertime move them inside, either to a greenhouse or a south facing window. I have known some people lay them spot and covering them, but I prefer them being in a warmer spot.
I like the cavandish myself. But I am looking for other types that bear fruit.
I grow some tropicals and some trees from africa and india. I just move them inside for over wintering.
Plus, it brings a bit of tropical cheer to the insides of your home in the winter.
I hope this helps you.

Someone shared this blog post with me. In the comment thread to the post there are some alternative ideas for a banana circle in temperate climate. It also spurred a great discussion thread on the FB posting where I found it.

https://treeyopermacultureedu.wordpress.com/chapter-10-the-humid-tropics/banana-circle/

In the same thread, Darren Doherty shared this link: http://biologicdesign.co.uk/page.php?pageid=home

I’m looking to implement a banana circle type system for some fruit trees I planted this Spring. I live in South Dakota. I’m thinking dig in a continuous ditch/swale on the inside of the 75’ diameter circle that’s already planted. The trees are asian pear and current and gooseberry spaced alternating around the circle. I’d like to dig a ditch around the whole inside and fill with raw compost/paper sheds and water-via feeder swales and a well. I’ll use the top soil to mound on the inside of the ditch/circle and plant other things on that. Is this unreasonable? Has anyone else tried such a thing? Thank you.

I've not seen a circular ditch used but I have seen plenty of individual compost holes.
I think they are more often for annuals because of the potential for root disturbance when used with perennials.
Living in Ohio, I've never bothered to learn about how this works with  banana circles.

I've started putting a compost ring next to every tree and bush I want to feed.
Not around the plant , but next to it.
I'm counting on the perennials finding their way to the moisture and nutrients.
Since it's in only one spot, I'm confident the plant won't be smothered.

Thank you for your experience William. The compost you use is finished, or do you keep essentially an active compost pile in the hole?

I think a banana circle is designed largely to mitigate excessive tropical sun and moisture loss. In the Midwestern US I would imagine other factors would be primary considerations for design. A tree circle could help with wind, and the roots would eventually intertwine to help support each other. The compost pile in the middle of the circle could heat up the soil for a longer growing season and mitigate extreme cold. It could also provide the benefits of polyculture, such as organic matter and nutrient accumulation. However, in places where sun is not excessive for growth, and humidity can cause fungal disease without good airflow, it may be worth modifying. I often design around the limiting factor for growth. In coastal areas near me that is often sun and soil oxygen. In the coastal mountains where I now live it is generally summer water and soil organic matter/nutrients, with summer sun and winter rain being borderline excessive in strength at times so I try to provide many things shade in the midsummer midday, and get things that need good drainage into raised beds with excellent drainage to handle our 7” days of rain.. I might modify the banana circle to a south facing horseshoe or keyhole in a cold Midwestern climate climate, but I’ve never tried to grow anything there, so I’d use your own observations to contextualize your design.