How do you know which plants to include?

Artists,

When you make a tiki scene, how do you know which plants to use?

Do you know the real plants of the area? Can you name some?

Or do you make them up out of your head based on your imagination without trying to be specific about what actual varieties they are?

...especially when the foliage is heavy, and a big part of the piece.

TikiMoon, I can't really speak for the artists but I think that is personal preference and artistic license. Also depends on your style and the media you are using. If you want some inspiration do a Google image search for "tropical foliage". Commonly used plants are palms, elephant ear, monstera, tree ferns, gingers, ti, hibiscus, bamboo, bananas, plumeria, bird of paradise, etc.

Great suggestions; thanks. I think I have a good sense of it all now.

Dracaena massangeana - corn plant - seems popular, too. The leaf is often a long green spear with a yellow stripe down the middle.