Landscaping new home, looking for ideas

They call it the garden state but there isn't too much room on my property!

Depending on where you look it says I am in different zones, but most show 7a.

I want to plant some tropical or tropical looking plants. Since we have cold winters here they will basically be annuals, so I'm looking for plants that will grow pretty fast. I'd prefer to plant these in the ground.

I'm planning on Canna lilys to line my fence and I want to put a banana(Musa Basjoo) somewhere. Because of the fence location certain areas get full sun for 7-8+ hours and others 4-5 hours direct sun and then shade. I want some ground cover plants, tall plants, large foliage, I'm open to all suggestions!

In my front yard which is partial/full shade due to trees filtering light I have grown pretty big elephant ears the past 3 years.

Anyone with any input or experience with growing tropicals in the north east or cold regions I'd like to hear from!

(please let me know if this is the wrong area to post this and I will put it in the correct place)

Thank you all

Bulbs that go dormant but have large leaves are a good way to go here. You will probably have to lift and store them over the winter. Some of these you could pot into fairly good sized pots, then plunge the whole pot into the soil in the spring, then remove the whole pot in the fall. Not all bulbs are OK with this, but it may work for some.

Tropical, to me, means large or colorful leaf, large flower or rich fragrance. When you are looking at a location that is sort of borderline between zones act like it is the worst zone for what you want to do until you have some experience and know where the best spots in your garden are for what you want. Your garden might really be both zones!
Most of my suggestions are not hardy in your area, so will need some work to see them through the winter.

Large or colorful leaf:
Caladium
Arum
Ferns (many are probably fine in your zone)
Aspidistra
Berginia
Hosta
Rheum australe, the ornamental rhubarb. Edible rhubarb, too.
Chard, especially 'Northern Lights'
Salvia argentea (Keep it baited for snails and slugs)
Geranium, certain species such as: G. maderense, G. palmatum and G. psilostemon. (These are not the common Zonal Geranium, but actual species)

Tropical flowers
Crinum and Cardiocrinum bulbs
Amaryllis
Gardenia (The smaller varieties are good house plants through the winter.)
Impatiens, larger types like I. sodenii
Jasminum sambac, bring indoors through the winter.
Lilies, especially the Oriental hybrids, but look at many different ones.
Deciduous Azaleas
Naked Ladies, Amaryllis belladona might be hardy in your area. Leave them in the ground and mulch them over the winter.
Hibiscus syriacus, the Rose of Sharon is worth looking into. Flowers are large (though not as large as the tropical Hibiscus)

Both- large leaves, and large flowers:
Hydrangea, especially the somewhat different ones like the Oak leaf (H. quercifolia) if it will grow in your zone
Calla, especially Zantedeschia aethiopica
Ginger (The ornamental types and the edible one. I have the edible ginger outside a window. When it flowers the fragrance fills the house. Incredible!)

Annuals with large leaves or flowers:
Petunia, especially the Grandiflora series. Largest flowers of the petunias.
Impatiens, especially New Guinnea Impatiens
Coleus

Annuals for Fragrance:
Nicotiana