I first saw them used at T.H.E. SHOW at CES maybe 10 years ago. There is a very prominent high end electronics manufacturer that uses them in his listening room to help control reflections and give him a more accurate reference system. My room has a lot more problems than his room, so I have a lot more deadening needed. And that requires MORE artificial Ficus trees scattered around the room perimeter.
I think the effect is more about the number / density of the leaves more than natural vs. artificial.