Elephant ears and bananas are about as tropical as you can get!
If you can plant them in very large containers with rich soil, they may perform better than in ground. People in arid regions seem to have better results with that than planted in that dry ground, the areas you don't water will wick all the water you give...
Another suggestion I'd have woukd be tetrapanax, not sure if it'll tolerate SoCal heat and dry but they are about as close to bullet proof as plants come!
Can't put em in a pot tho...
I'd also suggest castor bean plants, I know...SoCal folks don't like em much...
But they are undeniably tropical lookin!
Just nip the flowers out and you won't have reseeding issues!
Careful...highly toxic!
Also...be very careful with cannas!
The canna virus is rampant these days!
It WILL ruin any cannas in the area!
If your neighbors have cannas, look for signs of canna virus, it transmits so easy!
Most often it's brought in with new plants, before you know it, you have no idea where it came from, cuz all the cannas you own are sick...
The plants will persist...but they'll be ugly as sin! And often merely serve as a constant source for more infection!
Best of luck
